Have you ever felt like God doesn’t hear your prayers—like He doesn’t see or care about what’s happening in your life or in the world around you? If so, I want to invite you to our brand-new message series starting this Sunday, April 12. It’s called Silence.

For the next four weeks, we’ll study the Old Testament book of Habakkuk to learn more about God—and what it means to have faith in Him—in the midst of some of the darkest moments we experience. If you, or anyone you know, has ever wondered where God is when it seems to matter most, this is a series you won’t want to miss.

And before we acknowledge some of these difficult moments in life, we’ll also take time in our worship service to celebrate one of the most uplifting moments in life and faith. This Sunday, we’ll be celebrating baptism and the public steps many people—right here at Midcurrent—are taking in their relationship with Jesus. At each service, we’ll watch and cheer as they make a public declaration of their new association with Him.

If this is a step of faith you’ve been considering, it’s not too late. You can learn more and register by clicking THIS LINK.

Whether you’re in the tub, or cheering on the other side, it will be a fantastic weekend to be at Midcurrent. We’ll save you a seat!

8:00a, 9:30a, 11:00a   |   200 First Street   |   YouTube.com/midcurrentchurch

Sten

This past Sunday, I told the story of Jason from the book of Acts. His story is compelling because of his willingness to stand strong in the face of opposition to his faith in Jesus. After the service, a man introduced himself to me and thanked me for the message. His name, too, was Jason. He was facing an enormous amount of opposition related to a major project in his line of work. He told me that his experience at Midcurrent that morning encouraged him to stand firm in his faith and boldly move forward with the project he has been diligently working to unveil.

I am always amazed at how God orchestrates details like these and meets people in the exact ways they need most. And I am expecting God to work in similar ways this Easter at Midcurrent.

As a reminder, we have FIVE identical services on Saturday and Sunday:

Saturday: 3:30pm & 5:00pm
Sunday: 8:00am, 9:30am, & 11:00am

The 9:30am service on Sunday is appearing as though it could be uncomfortably full—from the parking lot, to MC Kids, to the auditorium. If you are a Partner at Midcurrent, or have called MC home for a while, we are asking you to consider attending either the 8:00am or 11:00am service on Sunday morning. If you do have flexibility in your schedule, it could go a long way in helping us create the most hospitable experience for all of our guests.

You can RSVP and track attendance for each service by visiting our registration page.

We are very much looking forward to the privilege of hosting you and any of your friends, family, neighbors, or coworkers. It’s never too late to extend an invitation to someone in your life to join you and your family at Midcurrent.

See you this weekend!

Sten

P.S. If you are considering taking a new or next step of faith in Jesus, I’d love for you to consider baptism. We’ll be celebrating baptism at all three services on April 12, and we would love to celebrate this step of faith with you. You can register or learn more about baptism by clicking HERE.

In light of the predicted snow storms on Sunday morning, along with the first weekend of Spring Break for both Hudson and River Falls school districts, we are going to proactively pivot and gather for our worship services at 9:30am and 11:00am only on Sunday, March 15.

I am excited to continue with the second week in our series Best Supporting Actor.  We are going to look at the story of one of the New Testament’s unsung heroes. His name is not hard to pronounce, but he’s only mentioned by name four times, in the span of five verses, in one short story in the book of Acts.
And yet, he teaches us a vital lesson about what it means to follow Jesus.

See you at 9:30am and 11:00am only or online online at YouTube.com/MidcurrentChurch

Sten

We are now full steam ahead into 2026, but I wanted to provide an update on the two challenges we extended to you as we closed out 2025.

1. With 50 days left in the year, and in anticipation of our new three service schedule, our goal was to add 50 new volunteers to our ministry teams that help us create the place where real people and a real God meet.  We didn’t quite reach the 50 mark. But here is the good news that is still worth celebrating wildly. 39 of you raised your hand to join our team and to serve our church in a big way! It really is a joy for us to be serving in ministry alongside of you. So let me just say thank you to all of you who partner with us to point people to Jesus every single week. And it’s never too late join in on the action. You can see and sign up for any of our ministry teams by clicking HERE. 

2.  An incredibly generous donor agreed to match up to $35,000 in year end gifts. We issued the challenge to all of you to give generously, and you responded in encouraging ways by contributing $28,000 to the work that God is doing at Midcurrent. What is even more encouraging is that when all was said and done, this donor still gave the full $35,000 meaning a grand total of $63,000 was collected as 2025 came to a close. That’s $63,000 that will contribute directly to lives being changed through the work of God that continues to grow here in our church!

Both of these are such fun updates to share. And I also want to make that I let you know that when you give of your time and your resources, you are not simply helping to maintain an organization, you are helping to move our mission forward as we strive to reach more people for Jesus and teach people to live more like Him!

So let me say thank you to you, Midcurrent, for the way you responded to the challenge!

See you Sunday for week 3 of Kingdom Come!

8:15am, 9:30am, 10:45am // 200 First Street // YouTube.com/midcurrentchurch

Sten

Happy New Year! I hope that 2026 is off to a great start. One of the things I am most looking forward to in the new year at Midcurrent is a local partnership that we first began just over two years ago. In the fall of 2023, along with two other local churches, we began a partnership with Together For Good–an organization that empowers the local church to walk alongside vulnerable kids and families in crisis. Essentially, Together For Good works with local churches to provide safe homes for kids so their parents can pursue the stability they need in order to love, care, and provide for their family best. Through short term hosting, parent support and advocacy, and wrap-around care, we have a chance to be the hands and feet of Jesus for vulnerable families, here in the St. Croix Valley, in real and practical ways.

Two years ago, we raced to the starting line of this vital work in our community only to encounter a handful of obstacles that made launching this Minnesota-based organization in Wisconsin extra challenging. But now, I am excited to announce that Together for Good is poised and ready to serve vulnerable families in western Wisconsin.  There’s only one thing left that we need….YOU!

If your memory of Together for Good is fading from two years ago, or if your are new to Midcurrent within the last two years, and this opportunity is one that ignites a spark inside of you, I want to invite you to an informational meeting at noon on Sunday, January 18. Representatives from Together For Good will join us to cast more of the vision for this initiative in western Wisconsin and help you learn how you can become a vital part of it. So mark your calendars, and plan to join us on the 18th as we prepare to love and serve our community in life changing ways!

Before I sign off, I want to thank you for your patience as we transition to THREE services on Sunday morning. We recognize that it does create some additional challenges.  With the growth we are experiencing, those challenges are to be expected, and we so appreciate your grace for us as we do everything we can to be as missional and hospitable as we can every single Sunday morning. If you have flexibility in your schedule, you can help us to be the best host possible by attending the 8:15 service (only 45 minutes earlier than our previous early service) or the 10:45 service (only 15 minutes later than our previous late service).

And whichever service you choose, I’ll look forward to having your join us for the second week in our series, Kingdom Come. We’ll drop into chapters 8 and 9 of the book of Matthew in order to discover the power of the Kingdom of God. What is it? Does it still exist? Do we have access to it? We’ll talk about it all on Sunday.

8:15am, 9:30am, 10:45am // 200 First Street // YouTube.com/midcurrentchurch

See you there!

Sten

In 2004, a little social media network known as Facebook launched on college campuses for the first time. I can vividly remember a friend of mine declaring, “I GOT FACEBOOK!” and I literally had no idea what in the world she was talking about. Eight years later, in 2012, Facebook went public and its IPO transformed it from a glorified on-campus directory to the world’s most valuable company and a global leader in communication and information sharing.

Facebook isn’t the only company to hit its stride at only eight years old. Airbnb was founded in 2008, and by 2016, it was valued at $30 billion dollars and had disrupted the travel industry world wide. Netflix started in 1997 as a DVD-by-mail company, and by 2005 (just 8 years later) it had over 4 million subscribers, and was profitable for the first time ever, paving the way for its eventual streaming dominance.

What’s my point?? Great question. Here’s my point.  Unimaginable futures can unfold for any organization at just eight years old. And that’s why I am beyond excited for Midcurrent Church to turn EIGHT YEARS OLD this Sunday, October 12!

Now, I am not promising some meteoric Facebook-like rise this next year.  What I am saying is that eighth years is worth celebrating. And we can begin this next year believing that God can do immeasurably more than we could ever ask or imagine.

So, consider this your invitation to join us on Sunday as we celebrate eight years of God’s faithfulness to us and ask for His blessing on every year still to come. Our celebration will include 21 people going public with their faith through baptism. I promise, your heart will be encouraged to witness how God is moving at this church and in the hearts of many people following after Him!

See you Sunday at 9:00am or 10:30am. We’re anticipating a full house so don’t be late!!

Thanks!
-Sten

I just got back from the MC YOUTH Colorado Springs Mission Trip, and I wish you could have seen our students in action. You would have been so proud.

Throughout the week, we served people on the verge of homelessness by painting homes used for transitional housing. We served at a local pantry by sorting supplies, handing out food, filling rice bags and more. Our youth were incredible—full of joy, compassion, and the love of Jesus. It was a beautiful reminder that we are made to serve one another.

As we look ahead to the fall, I’d love for you to take a moment and pray about where and how God might be inviting you to serve—whether here at Midcurrent or out in the community. We believe everyone has a part to play. If you’re interested in the serving opportunities at Midcurrent, you can check out this serve link:  MIDCURRENT SERVE LINK

Two other things:

1. This Sunday is going to be Special!
We’ll be highlighting the MC YOUTH Mission Trip with a short recap video and we’ll also get to hear from one of my all-time favorite people and communicators—Phil Print. I had the privilege to work with Phil for 6 years, and if you didn’t know, he’s Pastor Sten’s father-in-law !

Phil will be speaking the next three Sundays and trust me—you won’t want to miss it. It’s also a great opportunity to invite a friend!
2. Final chance for a free helpful resource!
Over the past few weeks, Pastor Remy has preached some incredibly helpful and practical messages on Reconciliation. He nailed it! If you’ve missed them, you can go back and watch them on our YouTube channel youtube.com/@MidcurrentChurch.

And if you’re working through how to forgive yourself, Remy is offering a free download of his book, Starting Over,  here:   Starting Over Link  (It’s free until tomorrow evening).

Excited to see you all on Sunday 
-Jonathan 

9:00am & 10:30am // 200 First Street in Hudson // YouTube.com/midcurrentchurch

Not long ago, we informed you of some health challenges for our Worship Director Josh O’meara. We mentioned that we would have an update in May, and I wanted to provide that update for you today.

This spring, Josh began experiencing some unexpected mental health related obstacles. It was clear that Josh’s best path toward health and recovery was with his family in California, and we did our best to provide that space and time for him.

Josh is a great fit on our team as well as a tremendous asset to our ministry and church family, and we are hopeful that he will resume his responsibilities. At the same time, we are in the midst of some exciting growth and momentum, and we do need each position on our team filled as we head into the fall of 2025.

As a result, we have determined that we will hold Josh’s position as Worship Director for him until July 1.  If Josh does not believe he will able to resume his responsibilities at that time, then, sadly, we will begin a search for a new Worship Director.

If Josh does confirm his readiness to resume his role by July 1, we will then offer him a return-to-work date of August 18 which will coincide with my return from sabbatical.  This unique timeline will allow our team to welcome Josh back into the mix in the most smooth and supportive way possible.

We invite you to continue praying for Josh, as well as for the continued movement of God’s Spirit here at Midcurrent.

Let me also say that I am hopeful to see you this Sunday. It’s Mother’s Day, Child Dedication, as well as my last Sunday before a brief summer sabbatical. Should be a great morning…won’t be the same without you!

9:00am & 10:30am // 200 First Street in Hudson // YouTube.com/midcurrentchurch

Thanks,
Sten

I want to take a moment to invite you to our upcoming Annual Meeting on Tuesday, May 13 at 6:30pm.

What is the Annual Meeting? Great question! Ultimately, this will be a true celebration for those of us who call Midcurrent home as we take time to highlight how God has been at work in the past year and look forward to how we believe He will be at work in the year to come. We’ll also be proposing a 2025-2026 budget for the exciting year of ministry that we believe to be ahead of us.

Everyone is invited to attend this short celebration, however only current and active MC Partners will be able to vote to approve the annual budget.

Childcare is provided. To RSVP, click this link.

Looking forward to Sunday and Week 2 in our series, One Small Step.

9:00am & 10:30am // 200 First Street in Hudson // YouTube.com/midcurrentchurch

Thanks,
Sten

I am writing to you today to provide an update about an incredibly important member of our team here at MC—our Worship Director, Josh O’Meara.

You’ve likely noticed Josh’s recent absences on Wednesdays and Sundays over the last month. He is currently navigating some significant and unexpected health challenges. We are doing our best to give him the space and support he needs to return to full health and strength. Josh is recuperating with his family in California. While we don’t yet have a time frame for his return, we anticipate his absence to continue through the month of April, and we hope to share an update in May.

In less than a year, Josh has already made a huge impact on the MC family. We love him, miss him, and are praying for him. We invite you to do the same. Your prayers for God’s work at Midcurrent to continue during Josh’s absence are also greatly appreciated.

Before I sign off, I can’t help but want to remind you about the significance of Easter at Midcurrent which is now less than two weeks away.  In anticipation of many guests, we are hosting FOUR Easter services.

• Saturday, April 19 at 4:30pm
• Sunday, April 20 at 8:00am, 9:30am, & 11:00am

Registration is not required, but you can help us prepare best for this exciting weekend by submitting an RSVP for whichever service you and your guests are planing to attend. You can RSVP with THIS LINK or by clicking the Sign Up tab on the Church Center App. If you call Midcurrent home and are looking for an opportunity to help us be as hospitable as possible over the Easter weekend, we’d be glad to have you consider the 8:00am worship experience on Sunday morning as we expect many of our visitors to attend on Saturday at 4:30pm as well as Sunday at 9:30am. One way or another, we’ll be excited to celebrate with you, your friends, family, and guests.

Thanks,
Sten

2025 is off to an amazing start, and there is still plenty more to look forward to in the coming months. And because we don’t want you to miss out on any of it, here are a few important dates I want to put on your radar.

April 19 & 20–EASTER AT MIDCURRENT: We are hosting FOUR identical Easter services for what we anticipate being an incredibly exciting weekend at Midcurrent. Service times are:
Saturday, April 19–4:30pm
Sunday, April 20–8:00, 9:30, & 11:00am.
Registration is NOT required, but you can help us be the best host possible if you RSVP for the service you plan to attend by clicking THIS LINK or clicking the Sign Up tab on the Church Center App.
MAY 11–Child Dedication: We plan to make Mother’s Day just a little more special with Child Dedication. Child Dedication celebrates the beginning of a child’s journey to know and follow Jesus and specifically highlights the role that parents play in raising their kids to do just that. Information and registration is available online and on the Church Center App.
June 23-26–VBS at Midcurrent: We could not be more thrilled to host our second ever VBS. This year’s theme is perfect for all of us here in the upper Midwest. It’s TRUE NORTH: Trusting Jesus in a Wild World. Mark your calendars and be on the lookout for registration details that will go live very soon!
Easter is now less than a month away and often times it’s the perfect time to think about the people in your life who you want to know about Jesus. At the same time, telling people about your faith in Jesus can be intimidating. We totally get it, and we want to help. That’s why we’re beginning a brand new message series, this Sunday, that is designed to take a big concept (what we call “evangelism”) and break it down into three simple and easy steps. It all starts this Sunday.
9:00am and 10:30am // 200 First Street // YouTube.com/MidcurrentChurch.

Thanks,
Sten

These late winter months, leading into spring break here in the St. Croix Valley, are typically a little quieter in the life of our church. That’s why it has been both surprising and encouraging to see that these have been some of the fullest and most momentous weeks in the (almost) eights short years that Midcurrent has existed. God is really doing big things in our church and in the lives of individuals and families who walk through our doors week in and week out.

And there is no better time than right now to consider getting more involved in the work God is doing here. That’s why I want to take a moment to highlight our upcoming MC Partnership class. Partnership at Midcurrent is the equivalent to what some may refer to as church membership. It’s just that we don’t think membership paints the right kind of picture for our relationship with the local church. Membership in the world today is often about the benefits you receive as a member of an organization. But we don’t think that’s what membership in the local church was ever meant to be. It’s far more about how we can contribute, as partners, to the work God is doing in and through the local church.

If you’ve already attended Meeting Midcurrent and are interested in pursuing the path to Partnership, then let me invite you to attend an MC Partnership informational meeting on Sunday, March 30 directly following the 10:30 service.

Lunch and childcare will be provided. You can register HERE if you think this is your next step of faith at Midcurrent.

And no matter where you are this Sunday, we hope to see you in-person or online for Week 3 in our series Vital Signs.

9:00am and 10:30am // 200 First Street // YouTube.com/MidcurrentChurch.

Thanks,
Sten

If you live in the greater St. Croix Valley, you’re probably reading this after you just finished shoveling yourself out of all the snow. There is quite a bit of it out there, but here’s the truth. No amount of snow can dampen our spirits at Midcurrent right now. God has been working and moving in exciting ways in these first couple months of 2025.

If you have stayed relatively well engaged in the life of the church recently, you have heard me mention that our 2024-2025 fiscal year is set to end on May 31. And because of the enormous growth we have experienced across all of our ministries, we still have a little ground to cover to meet our budget.

And with that in mind, I wanted to let you know of an incredibly pivotal opportunity in front of us. A very generous couple from Midcurrent has offered to match up to $15,000 of new and increased giving commitments to Midcurrent between now and May 31. What that means is this. If you choose to begin giving back to God’s work at Midcurrent for the first time, or if you increase your current recurring giving commitment, all of those gifts of generosity will be matched up $15,000.

It is an absolute joy to be a part of such a generous, faithful, and sacrificial church. And together, I believe we have an opportunity to not only meet a budget, but to make sure we continue to create the right opportunities for real people and a real God to meet.

If you are ready to take a new or next step of generosity at Midcurrent, you can do so by clicking HERE.

Hope to see you for Week 2 in our series Vital Signs. Pastor Jonathan will help us to make sense of some of the more challenging situations we encounter in life.

9:00am and 10:30am // 200 First Street // YouTube.com/MidcurrentChurch

Thanks,
Sten

We are starting a brand new message series this Sunday called Vital Signs. Typically, “vital signs” is a medical term used to measure our basic physiological functions–respiration, heart rate, blood pressure, etc. Each measurement has a way of helping to determine the overall health of a human being. That is all well and good when it comes to physical health and vitality, but what about spiritual health? Are there spiritual vital signs that indicate a healthy and growing spiritual life? While a little harder to detect maybe, I think the answer is YES.

And that’s what our next message series is all about. We’ll examine four different areas of our lives in order to discover some of the spiritual vital signs we should be most concerned about if we want to be growing and maturing in our faith. If that’s your goal right now, or if you have ever wondered what it looks to grow in your spiritual life, then I hope you’ll join us for this four-week series.

It all starts this Sunday, March 2.

9:00am and 10:30am // 200 First Street // YouTube.com/MidcurrentChurch.

Thanks,
Sten

I wanted to send a special invitation to you to join us at Midcurrent on Sunday. If you have been around for the last few months, you know there is a contagious momentum right now and a real sense of God’s movement in our lives and in our church. If you haven’t been able to join for the past few months, consider this your open invitation to swing on by again–no apologies or explanations necessary.

We’ll be wrapping up a series on the Old Testament book of Esther, and here’s what I can tell you. If you’ve ever felt like you are heading in the wrong direction in life, or faith, or career, or marriage, or anything else, this will be a perfect Sunday for you to be at Midcurrent. The overarching story of Esther provides for us a very encouraging message as it relates to any of the less-than-favorable trajectories in which we might be headed.

We’ll also take time within our worship experience to celebrate communion together as a church as a way to remember what Jesus has done for us.

9:00am and 10:30am // 200 First Street // YouTube.com/MidcurrentChurch.

Thanks,
Sten

Let me say thank you to everyone who joined us for our first ever YOUTH TAKEOVER Sunday at Midcurrent! It was a full house and quite possibly one of my most favorite worship experiences here at Midcurrent in these first 7+ years. The entire morning was a huge success! But I don’t say it was a success because of the record attendance. I say it was a success because it highlighted, so perfectly, our commitment to raising up the next generation of Jesus followers in the world.

If you have hung around Midcurrent for any length of time, you know that we invest heavily into the environments and opportunities we create for both kids and youth. Why? Because we believe kids and youth today are leaders tomorrow–in the church and in the world. That goes for students all across the St. Croix Valley…and students all across the world as well.

With that in mind, I am excited to share with you today a new partnership we have formed with Doulos Discovery School in the Dominican Republic. In 2002, Doulos was founded with one single goal–to raise up servant leaders from all social classes to address the spiritual, social, and economic challenges of their country for the glory of God. The abbreviated mission they list on their website sums it up well in just four words: Servant Leaders – Kingdom Impact.

You should know that a portion of every dollar you give back to God at Midcurrent will now go directly to Doulos to support the work God is doing there. Half of our annual contributions as a church will be directed toward their general operating budget to be used however it is need most to support their ministry. And the other half is funding the education of four Dominican students at Doulos–Brianna, Jessly, Nehemias, and Diego.

What does this mean for you?? Great question. Here are a handful of ways you can be involved with our support of Doulos:

Pray for the school and specifically for servant leaders and kingdom impact.
Pray for Brianna, Jessly, Nehemias, and Diego.
Begin a recurring giving plan at Midcurrent which will help fund God’s work here in Hudson, WI as well as God’s work at Doulos in the Dominican Republic.
Keep an eye out for future MC missions trips to Doulos (likely not until 2026 at the earliest).
Consider being the MC representative to one of our four students. Midcurrent (with the help of your generosity) will fund the scholarships for these students, but we are looking for four families to correspond with them, send birthday/graduation gifts, and other forms of encouragement throughout the year. We’ll pair these students up with the first four families who reach out to me to indicate their interest.

What a joy it is to be a part of a church that so passionately invests into the next generation of Jesus followers. I do believe that the local church, and the Kingdom of God across the world, is in good hands. And we have so many of you to thank for playing a part in it all.

See you Sunday for the first week in a brand new series through the Old Testament book of Esther. I think you’ll be surprised at what this short book can teach us about God’s work in our lives and in the world around us.

9:00am and 10:30am // 200 First Street // YouTube.com/MidcurrentChurch.

Thanks,
Sten

I want to extend a special invitation to all of you to join us this Sunday for YOUTH TAKEOVER.

At Midcurrent, we believe that youth today are leaders tomorrow in the church and in the world. And every Wednesday night, we have the opportunity to invest into upwards of 70+ of those future leaders in the greater St. Croix Valley. And you might be encouraged to know that MC Youth is so much more than pizza and crazy fun games (although there is plenty of both). Every Wednesday, students have the opportunity to worship Jesus, learn more about following Jesus, and take next steps of faith in a real relationship with Him.

We consider it a great privilege to witness those amazing next steps every single week. And this Sunday, we’ll highlight a number of them and also celebrate baptism for students who are ready to go public with their faith in Jesus.

In addition, students will be serving and leading just about every aspect of the morning from the front doors to the platform and everywhere in between.

If you need a dose of encouragement about youth today and the state of the church tomorrow, then don’t miss this Sunday at Midcurrent!

Let me also say a quick work of thanks to those of you who give faithfully to God’s work at Midcurrent. The impact of your generosity will be on full display this Sunday, and we could not be more excited to give you a glimpse of the lives that are being changed thanks to a great God and your regular support.

See you Sunday.

9:00am and 10:30am // 200 First Street // YouTube.com/MidcurrentChurch.

Thanks,
Sten

If you have 30 extra seconds today, I am asking you to say a quick prayer for all of the students at MC Youth. This weekend, pastor Jonathan, Josh, and a team of incredibly dedicated adult volunteers are taking 56 teenagers to WINTER RUSH–an unforgettable weekend retreat designed for students to have a crazy amount of fun all while they worship and learn about Jesus in life changing ways.

These teenage years are often critical years when students take new and next steps of faith that impact their life, their families, their communities, and their church for years to come. And at Midcurrent, we really do believe that teenagers today are leaders tomorrow in the church and in the world. So we could not be more excited for the weekend they are about to experience, and I would be so grateful if you could take a minute to pray that they might meet God this weekend in powerful and even life changing ways.

And while we are on the subject of future leaders in the church, let me remind you to mark your calendar for YOUTH TAKEOVER on Sunday, February 2. Fresh off of their time away, the youth of Midcurrent will lead just about every aspect of our worship experience that morning. From the cafe crew, to greeters, to the band, and worship leaders, MC YOUTH will takeover for the morning and lead us in what I anticipate being one of our most memorable worship experiences of 2025–capped off with students going public with their faith in Jesus through baptism.

It’s going to be a memorable Sunday…but first we’ll wrap up our current message series, God Is That You? This Sunday, we’re going to read a fascinating story from the Old Testament in order to discover a vital principle that will help us to know where it is that God is truly leading in our life. It’s maybe my favorite week of the four-week series, and I’d be glad to have you join us.

9:00am and 10:30am // 200 First Street // YouTube.com/MidcurrentChurch.

Thanks,
Sten

There is a lot happening at church in the next ten days, and I do not want you to miss a single moment of it all. So pull your calendars out, and allow me to fill you in on all the details.

–Thursday, December 19, 6:00pm: MC Kids Movie Night featuring THE STAR
–Sunday, December 22 at a special time of **10:00AM ONLY**:
FOR OUR CITY gift-basket packing event. In place of our normal Sunday services, we’ll gather together as a church to show our appreciation for local heroes and special members of our community. If you didn’t catch the Amazon Wish List in time, no worries. Bring some K-Cups, tea bags, packs of gum, granola bars or any other snacks on Sunday morning to help fill these baskets to the brim!

And then…drum roll please…there’s Christmas at Midcurrent. We have four services this year:

Monday, December 23: 4:30pm and 6:30pm
Tuesday, December 24: 4:30pm and 6:30pm
As of now, both 4:30pm services are looking to be quite full! If you have flexibility in your schedule (especially if you call Midcurrent home) we’d be glad to have you consider–or even reconsider– either of the 6:30pm options with the most availability at 6:30pm on 12/24. Registration is not required but you can RSVP HERE to help us prepare to be the best host possible.

Josh and the band have an incredible evening of music prepared. I have the privilege of sharing how the good news of Jesus impacts each and every one of our lives still today. We’re telling the inspiring and heart warming story of one of our very own church members. And of course, we’ll conclude the night by candle light singing Silent Night together. Tell everyone you know…and whatever you do, don’t miss out on this special worship experience at Midcurrent.

And don’t forget that on Sunday, December 29, Midcurrent will be ONLINE ONLY at 9:00am and 10:30am at YouTube.com/MidcurrentChurch.

Thanks,
Sten

P.S. If you have not yet had a chance to consider Midcurrent as the recipient of any year end gifts you plan to make, I’d be glad for you to learn more about some of the ministry initiatives of which would benefit from your support. You can read about it all HERE.

Before the craziness of Christmas and the New Year, I want to make sure to put something vital on your radar and that’s our upcoming group discipleship opportunity. This will be a special opportunity for you to grow in your understanding of God and to take another step in your relationship with Jesus.

Starting on Thursday, January 9th, we’re hosting a nine week video series called The Story of God. This is a group-discipleship opportunity where we’ll travel chronologically from Genesis to Revelation, in order to discover Jesus on every page of the Bible.

No matter where you are on your faith journey, this nine week study will help you discover how and where you join Jesus in that big story.

Registration is live on the Church Center app or by clicking THIS LINK.

And while you are online, don’t forget to RVSP for Christmas at Midcurrent. We have four services all lined up for what we believe will be a special time together.

Monday, December 23 at 4:30 & 6:30pm
Tuesday, December 24 at 4:30 & 6:30pm
Registration is NOT required, but if you know when you plan to attend, we’d be glad to have you let us know so we can prepare our team to be the best host possible. As of now, December 24 at 6:30pm looks to have the most availability to provide you the most comfortable visit to Midcurrent. But whenever you can join us, we’ll be glad to welcome you through our front doors this Christmas.

Hope to see you this Sunday too as Pastor Jonathan brings a close to our series What a Gift!
9:00am & 10:30am // 200 First Street // YouTube.com/midcurrentchurch

Thanks,
Sten

Thanksgiving has come and gone which means all sights are set on Christmas. Whether you start listening to Christmas music and decorating your house before or after Thanksgiving, it’s safe to say it’s all underway now. It certainly is at Midcurrent. The whole church is decorated for the season, and we can hardly wait for the special worship experience we have planned for Christmas at Midcurrent just a few short weeks away. We’ve already started planning just about every detail of what we believe will be the most special Christmas ever. You do not want to miss it! And if you have friends, family, neighbors, classmates, or co-workers who you’ve ever thought about inviting to Midcurrent, trust me when I tell you this will be the most perfect time for them to join you.

We have four identical worship experiences planned.

Monday, December 23 at 4:30 & 6:30pm
Tuesday, December 24 at 4:30 and 6:30pm

Registration is not required, but if you know which service you’ll attend, we’d be glad to have you RSVP so that we can prepare ourselves to be the best host possible. You can RSVP at midcurretchurch.org/christmas.

And because these two days will be so momentous, we decided to create a unique and special opportunity for the Sunday prior. So on Sunday morning, December 22, in place of our normal worship services, we’ll gather together as a church at a special time of 10:00am only to pack gift baskets for those who serve our community in meaningful ways. We’ll be packing gift baskets for teachers in every school of our district, for ER doctors and nurses working on Christmas, and for local nursing homes. This will be a fun way for us to demonstrate that we are FOR OUR CITY! You can help provide the contents of these gifts baskets by purchasing items from this Amazon Wish List.

All in all, it’s going to be a great month at Midcurrent! See you Sunday for Week 2 of What a Gift.

9:00am & 10:30am // 200 First Street // YouTube.com/midcurrentchurch

Thanks,
Sten

P.S. This Sunday is your last chance to return your gifts for Operation Help’s Christmas Campaign. If you need an alternative time to drop off your items, Becki Reed will be at church on Friday, December 6 from 8am to noon. Thanks for your generosity!

I want to take just a brief moment to wish all of you a Happy Thanksgiving. No matter what you have planned, I pray that it is a meaningful time of rest and connection with those that you love. Let me also encourage you to find some way this week to show appreciation for and return kindness to the people in your life who have impacted you in meaningful ways. You might also find a way to express your gratitude to God as well.

As a church family, one of the opportunities we have to return kindness to others is to shop for Christmas presents for families in our community who are in need of extra assistance this year. We have sponsored 25 kids for Operation Help’s annual Christmas Campaign. Most tags were taken this past Sunday, but there are still a few left for you to grab this week. You’ve still got time to go shopping and return your gifts back here to Midcurrent so we can transfer them all to the right place at the right time.

Hope to see you Sunday as we begin a brand new three week message series called What A Gift. When Jesus was born, three wiseman traveled a great distance to present three seemingly obscure gifts to the new born king. During our December series, we’ll explore how each of these gifts (gold, frankincense, and myrrh) reveal something special about the true identity of Jesus. Whether they knew it or not, the gifts these wiseman brought told the story of God and the part that Jesus played in it. Each week, we’ll discover what each gift reveled about who Jesus was and why God sent him from heaven to earth.

Can’t wait to celebrate the Christmas season with you!

9:00am & 10:30am // 200 First Street // YouTube.com/midcurrentchurch

Thanks,
Sten

We are incredibly excited for you to be our guest for Christmas at Midcurrent! We have a very special worship experience planned that we know you will enjoy. And we are incredibly confident that it will be the perfect opportunity for you to invite any family, friends, neighbors, or co-workers to join us at Midcurrent.

This coming Sunday is the beginning of the week of Thanksgiving. And Thanksgiving is often the kickoff to a month-long Holiday season where the pace of life picks up and most calendars are filled with extra parties, family gatherings, to-do lists, errands, and kids concerts at school. It really is a wonderful time of year, but it can be an exhausting time of year as well.

That’s why we are going to change the pace at church this Sunday, press pause on our normal rhythms, and provide a space for you to rest and recharge for all that is ahead. Josh, Jonathan, and I are going to team up to lead an extended time of worship, reflection, and response to God’s goodness and faithfulness. And, as a part of this special worship experience, we will also participate in Communion together as a specific way to remember and give thanks to God for what he has done for us.

Additionally, you’ll see a Christmas tree in the lobby this Sunday filled with gift tags. This year we have partnered once again with Operation HELP’s Christmas Campaign to provide Christmas gifts for kids in our community whose families are in need of extra assistance this time of year. We sponsored 25 kids and split their wish lists into 80+ tags for you to take over the next TWO Sundays. Gifts range in size and price so feel free to grab one or two…or three or four!! Either way, this is our opportunity as a church to be a huge blessing to kids and families in the St. Croix Valley.

See you Sunday for what we believe will be a special time together!

9:00am & 10:30am // 200 First Street // YouTube.com/midcurrentchurch

Thanks,
Sten

One week ago, I concluded my email to you by saying how much I was looking forward to gathering together as a church to lift high the name of Jesus. Well gang, we certainly did gather together as a church this past Sunday!! Outside of holiday weekends, we welcomed more people through our front doors than ever before. The building was full of people, yes, but more significant is the fact that our entire staff agreed that every single space was full of God’s Spirit in a special way.

I am particularly glad for such a momentous morning because of the fact that more of us got to stand alongside the moms and dads who brought their kids forward for Child Dedication. We dedicated 10 kids over both services, and I could not be more excited for these families who are declaring their intention to raise their kids to know and follow Jesus. And I am so glad for a church family that commits their support to these kids and to the next generation as well.

Right now, we are invested in more kids and teenagers than ever before. And that might mean that Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights can get a little crazy. And that might also mean that budgets get stretched thin. But it also means that the future of our church and our community is bright. And that is something to celebrate and thank God for today.

This Sunday, we’re finishing our series Upon This Rock. If you’ve ever wondered what a life of discipleship is really all about, then make sure to join us for this last look at the life of Peter who was one of Jesus’ closest and most trusted disciples.

9:00am & 10:30am // 200 First Street // YouTube.com/midcurrentchurch

Thanks,
Sten

The dust is beginning to settle from what has been a long, loud, and tiresome election season. I’m not suggesting that the division we are experiencing is over, but the 2024 Presidential Election is. And so I wanted to take a moment to speak to it all briefly today.

Roughly 50% of our country voted for one candidate and roughly 50% voted for the other. And yet I cannot help but feel compelled in this moment to remind 100% of Jesus followers—whether your candidate won or lost— that our hope for this life and the next is in Jesus and in Him alone.

So as we move forward together, let’s be gracious with one another, and most of all, let’s keep our gaze fixed on the one who truly came to save us.
His name is Jesus.

I’m looking forward to coming together as a church this Sunday to lift His name high above all else.

Thanks,
Sten

It’s hard to imagine that just seven years ago…Midcurrent Church was a group of 30 people committed to creating a different kind of church in the St. Croix Valley. God has truly done unimaginable things in those short seven years…and this Sunday we got a glimpse of it all. From 12 baptisms to the seven stories of real everyday people experiencing God in the life of our church, it was really special to celebrate SEVEN YEARS with so many of you on Sunday.

And yet, as great as all of that was, here’s what we have to remember. This is not the end. We have not crossed any sort of finish line. We have not “arrived,” nor is this the time to take our foot off of the gas pedal. I concluded our time together on Sunday with a look at the creation story in the book of Genesis. What we learned is that the seventh day was not marking the end of creation as much as it was marking the beginning of the Kingdom God would establish here on earth.

The same is true for us. Our 7th year of ministry is not marking the end of the beginning, but the beginning of the future God has in store for the life of our church and the impact we will have. And if the next chapter is going to be as fruitful and effective as the first chapter, it’s going to take a brand new commitment from all of us.

I shared a handful of practices that we need to set on repeat in our lives and in our faith. Let me highlight three in this email today.

SERVING. Now is the best time be a part of what God is doing, and we’d love to link arms with you in this next chapter. You can read a description of all our ministry teams, and sign up for one, HERE.
GIVING. In addition to a great God, we have so many of you to thank for supporting the work God has done here since 2017. If you have not yet begun a recurring giving plan to Midcurrent, can I encourage you to consider how you might take a small step to honor God with your finances and contribute regularly to His work at MC? One time and recurring gifts can be set up HERE.
CONNECTING. One of the most important activities for you to set on repeat is connecting with others here at MC in smaller groups where true vulnerability and accountability can take place. That’s what MC Circles are designed for. These seasonal, smaller sized groups are so important to our lives as Jesus followers. You can see a list of each group meeting this fall HERE.
The best is yet to come!

Thanks,
Sten

This past Sunday, I witnessed something I always find encouraging…phones coming out to take pictures of the content and big ideas up on the side screens. In both services, I saw phones snapping photos of the list of the FIVE people we all needs in our lives. Here’s the list our guest speaker, Scott Nelson, shared with us:

Soul Sharpeners (spiritual)
Vision Casters (inspirational)
Tail Kickers (motivational)
Heart Healers (interpersonal)
Strategic Thinkers (practical)
It is our goal at Midcurrent that, over time, you would have these kind of people in your life. And while we cannot promise you that we will fill every one of these slots, or that we will find you your new best friends for life, we can promise you opportunities that will allow you to take another step along the pathway toward faith filled connections and friendships.

One of those opportunities is something we call MC Circles. These are seasonal, short term opportunities for you to move from rows on Sunday into Circles throughout the week. And beginning the week of October 20, we are launching a five-week session of MC Circles following along with our upcoming message series, Upon This Rock, all about the life and teaching of one of Jesus’ closest followers named Peter.

You can see and sign up for any of these smaller sized groups by CLICKING THIS LINK!

And before I sign off, I have to remind you that this Sunday we are celebrating 7 YEARS OF MIDCURRENT! We’ll take a fun look back at the last seven years, but more than celebrating Midcurrent, we’ll be celebrating what God has done in this place. And there is no better better way to celebrate what God has done than with baptism. If baptism is a next step of faith you’re ready to take, there’s still time jump into the mix. Info and registration for baptism can be found HERE.

If you have been a part of MC at all for the past seven years, we want to invite you join us on Sunday.

9:00am and 10:30am // 200 First Street // YouTube.com/midcurrentchurch

Thanks,
Sten

I love when the calendar flips to September, school starts again, and life at church returns to some of its normal rhythms. But the honest truth is, a lot of churches (at least in our part of the country) don’t truly start picking up steam until October. Cabins are closing up for the year, fall sports are winding down, and everyone is getting a better handle on whatever their “new normal” is for a new school year.

This has always been the case at Midcurrent, which means I am equally excited (if not more so) about the calendar flipping to October. As it does, there are a couple things I want to share with you today.

1. If life has been a little crazy or extra busy or particularly whatever…now is the perfect time to pick back up at church wherever you left off. So consider the month of October your “Guilt Free–No Shame–Enthusiastic Invitation” back to Midcurrent! No matter where life has taken you lately, we’d be so thrilled to welcome you back into the very places we are creating for real people and a real God to meet.

2. October will be full of opportunities for you to take another step in a relationship with Jesus and with others at Midcurrent. Here’s what’s on tap:

October 6: Special guest speaker and author, Scott Nelson. Scott is a brilliant and trusted colleague of mine who will share with us the 5 PEOPLE we all need in our lives. I guarantee you will be encouraged to get the right kind of people around you after you hear from Scott.
October 13: Midcurrent’s 7 Year Anniversary and Baptism. We will celebrate all that God has done at Midcurrent since 2017 and there is no better way to do that than with Baptism. If you have said YES to Jesus, baptism is the perfect next step to go public with you faith in Him. Details and registration can be found by clicking HERE.
October 20: MC Circles will begin the week of the 20th alongside a 5 week message series about the life of Peter–one of Jesus’s closest followers–called Upon this Rock. MC Circles are seasonal short term opportunities to move from rows on Sunday into circles throughout the week with others who desire to take next steps of faith. Open groups will go live on Sunday.
October 20: Also on Sunday the 20th is our next Meeting Midcurrent. If you are new to Midcurrent and want to learn more about what makes us tick, this meeting is for you. Lunch and childcare are provided. You can register HERE.
It’s gonna be a great month at Midcurrent. Looking forward to having you be a part of it all! It all starts this Sunday!

9:00am and 10:30am // 200 First Street // YouTube.com/midcurrentchurch

Thanks,
Sten

We are just about one month away from one of my favorite Sundays every year–our anniversary. On October 13, Midcurrent will turn SEVEN years old! And not only do I love thinking back on the start of God’s work here, but I love that this is also a day when we celebrate baptism at Midcurrent. There’s no better way to celebrate what God is doing in our church than by highlighting how God is working in the lives and the hearts of people who walk through our doors.

Baptism isn’t a magical ceremony nor does it provide a “One Free Entry Through the Pearly Gates” coupon. But it is a significant next step for anyone who has put their faith in Jesus. Simply put, baptism is a public declaration of a new association with Jesus.

And if this is the next step for you and your relationship with Jesus, then we’d love to stand alongside of you. The baptism pool will be set on October 13 (yes, it’s a portable and inflatable hot tub!!) and our entire church will be ready to cheer wildly for those who are going public with their faith in Jesus.

More information, and registration, can be found online HERE.

See you Sunday for Week 3 in our series SHOW UP.

9:00am and 10:30am // 200 First Street // YouTube.com/midcurrentchurch

Thanks,
Sten

P.S. There is still time to sign up for MC Connections!! It’s starts Thursday and it is the best and most fun way to get connected at Midcurrent. So sign up HERE today!!

There’s a recurring comment I hear often these days. Whether it’s from people who have been at Midcurrent for the last seven years or even just the last seven months, they all tell me the same thing about the people they see walking through the doors on a Sunday morning:

“I don’t recognize them!!” 

Now for the record, this is a good problem to have! It means people are coming from far and wide in hopes of meeting God in the space we create every Sunday morning. It also means we have a great opportunity to strengthen the connections we have with those sitting next to us or passing us in the lobby on Sunday morning.  I really think the strength of our church rests in the strength of our genuine connection to one another.

That is exactly why we created MC Connections. This is a fun, four week environment designed to help other people know your name and to help you know the name and the story of someone sitting next to you. And if you are new to Midcurrent, this is the perfect place for you this fall. But I also want to make something clear. MC Connections is not for new people only. We don’t want new people only meeting other new people at church. We want new people to meet core members and attenders of the church. We want new people to get to know those who helped start Midcurrent Church seven years ago as well as those who have strengthened Midcurrent Church at every other stage along the way. We don’t want a church of “new vs. old” or “us vs. them.” We want to be ONE church that comes together every week in the name of Jesus. MC Connections is one way to do just that. And it starts Thursday, September 19.

Each week, we’ll share a meal, probably a few laughs too, and be guided in a simple conversation that is designed to help us get to know one another better. And childcare is provided!

The more the merrier! So sign up HERE today!! 

Hope to see you Sunday for Week 2 in our series SHOW UP.

9:00am and 10:30am // 200 First Street // YouTube.com/midcurrentchurch

Thanks,
Sten

Despite the fact that I wish every season was summer break, the inevitable happened today. My kids went back to school. And with Labor Day weekend upon us, it really only means one thing. Summer is over. They say all good things come to an end, and I guess that is the reality we can’t escape with these precious months of summer here in the midwest.

But here’s the great news. All the good things that God is doing at Midcurrent aren’t coming to an end. In fact, in many ways, they are just about to begin (again).

This Labor Day weekend, I’ll be finishing our series Our House to talk about one of the most powerful tools we have available in our spiritual tool belts. It’s vital to the life and the growth of our church, and it’s absolutely necessary to help us overcome whatever hurdles come our way — as a church and as individuals. Join us on Sunday to hear more.

Then next Sunday, September 8, is our Fall Kick Off. It marks the beginning of our fall calendar of ministry which has all been designed with you in mind. It will also be a whole lot of fun. From the sidewalk to the stage, and everywhere in between, we have a morning planned that you do not want to miss. More details to come.

See you this Sunday!

9:00am and 10:30am // 200 First Street // YouTube.com/midcurrentchurch

Thanks,
Sten

Gentlemen, registration for the September Men’s Breakfast is live. Click HERE for more info!

I know we’re only about halfway through summer, but our team has had our sights set on fall for quite some time now. There’s no way to predict anything with certainty, but all signs point to this fall be a momentous one.

And having added three new members to our staff within the last few months, these summer months are crucial times of team building and scheduling, as well as overall preparation for what we anticipate will be an exciting season in the life of our church. And the truth is, we won’t be able to create the most hospitable spaces for real people and a real God to meet this fall without more of you linking arms with us to be the best host possible every time we open the doors of our church.

If you have been contemplating a next step in your involvement at church, this is your invitation to join in the fun, and this is the best time to express your interest. Raising your hand now will give our entire team plenty of time to get to know you and get you up to speed on the work we are doing together all throughout the church so that we can hit the ground running as the calendar flips to September.

You can see a list of all the places to serve and express your interest by clicking this link. Someone from our team will be excited to reach out to you ASAP!

Thanks Midcurrent! It’s such a joy to be a part of a church who understands that we are not spiritual consumers, but spiritual contributors to God’s work in and through the local church.

Looking forward to being back with you all this Sunday for Week 3 of Summer in the Sand!

9:00am and 10:30am // 200 First Street // YouTube.com/midcurrentchurch

Thanks,
Sten

If you’re anything like me, the month of July feels like a huge breath of fresh air. Summer is in full swing. The kids are out of school. You may have just returned from a week of vacation or are anticipating one coming up soon. All in all, the month of July can feel like a nice break from the pace of life most of us keep.

That break is such a great thing! And at the very same time, my hope is that we don’t take a break from our faith or disrupt any of the momentum that we are experiencing in the life of the church and in our own spiritual lives as well.

That’s why we have created opportunities specifically for men, women, and families this July. Here’s a quick run down of what’s coming up.

1. Men’s Breakfast–July 13: Gentlemen, this is the perfect way to connect with other guys, take another step in faith, and learn more about what it means follow Jesus as a man in the world today.
2. IF:Table–July 21: Ladies, this is your chance to gather together, share a simple meal, and dive deeper in guided conversation with other women at Midcurrent.
3. Feed My Starving Children–July 29: This is an excellent opportunity for nearly all ages to gather this summer and help kids in need by packing meals that will be sent all over the world to kids struggling with food insecurities.

Details and registration can be found on the Sign Ups tab on the Church Center App or at midcurrentchurch.org.

Let’s keep this train rolling!

See you Sunday for Week 2 of Summer in the Sand!

9:00am and 10:30am // 200 First Street // YouTube.com/midcurrentchurch

Thanks,
Sten

I want to thank you for the investment you are making into the next generation of Jesus followers and leaders in the church and in the world. We are fresh off a full week of high energy fun and learning for kids in this community. We had 75 kids signed up for our first ever VBS–an action packed summer adventure camp just for kids!! It is so fun to be a part of a church that is making this kind of investment into our future.

We can’t talk about our investment into the next generation without acknowledging Lexi Neuman and the incredible impact she has had all over this place! On Sunday, we took a moment to honor Lexi as she transitions from part time staff member to full time mom. So today, we say THANK YOU to Lexi, and we also say WELCOME to Carley Maley!

Carley grabs the reigns this week as our interim MC Kids Director. Her huge heart for Jesus and extensive experience and training in the world of education make Carley the perfect person to pick up right where Lexi left off. Trust me when I say that your kids will love the experience Carley and her team continue to create every single Sunday morning!

That’s all for now!

Hope you’re planning to join us this Sunday, July 7, for Week 1 in our brand new series called Summer in the Sand. Pastor Jonathan will kick off this five week series that is designed to teach us valuable lessons from wilderness journeys in the Bible.

Don’t forget: ONE service this Sunday…9:00am only. See you then!

Thanks,
Sten

The book of Ecclesiastes reminds us that there is a season for everything. And that is so very true at Midcurrent right now. We are currently in a season of great growth, but also a season of change.

Less than a year ago, we added Jonathan to the pastoral team at Midcurrent.
Becki Reed just recently joined our team as my wife Erica stepped back from some of the formal roles she volunteered to fill for the last seven years.
And in this month of May, we said goodbye to Brian Smith and also welcomed Josh O’meara to our team.

I’m writing today to let you know of one more change we are anticipating this summer. June 30th will be Lexi Neuman’s last Sunday as our MC Kids Director. What you may not know is that later this summer Lexi and her husband John are expecting their first child.  And Lexi has prayerfully decided that she will transition from a part time member of our staff to a full time mom. While we will miss Lexi a great deal, we could not be more excited for this next season in her life. And we are also thrilled to know she’s not planning on going anywhere. When the time is right, she is looking forward to jumping back into MC Kids as a classroom teacher investing into the next generation of Jesus followers.

Lexi will leave some big shoes to fill, but I could not be more confident in the one who is stepping in to fill them. Starting on June 16, Carley Maley will begin grabbing the reins from Lexi as our interim MC Kids Director. If Carley’s name sounds familiar, it’s most likely because she is pastor Jonathan’s wife.  And it’s important for you to know that Carley is not assuming this role because that’s what a pastor’s wife is supposed to do. Carley is incredibly passionate about ministry to kids, and her masters degree in education plus her huge heart for Jesus make her a perfect fit for this role at this time. And we were so thrilled to see her raise her hand for the job.

Change is never easy, but I truly believe God is in all of the details and is working all things out for the good of those walking through our doors week in and week out.

Looking forward to what God has in store for us next. Glad to have you along for the journey.

See you Sunday for Week 1 of our brand new message series, Verified: The Authentic Traits of Jesus Followers. 

9:00am & 10:30am // 200 First Street // youtube.com/midcurrentchurch

Sten

It has been so exciting to unveil our plans for our first ever VBS at Midcurrent–an action packed summer adventure camp for kids in this community. I have seen with my own eyes the plans coming together for this week and trust me when I tell you, your kids do not want to miss it!

This really is a significant week in the life of our church this summer, and as a result, there are THREE things I want you to know about VBS.

1. Registration is LIVE. In order to invest well into the next generation of leaders and Jesus followers in the world, VBS at Midcurrent is FREE in 2024 and open to all kids 4 years old through incoming 5th graders. To learn more and to register your kids for the best week of their summer, CLICK HERE.
2. We need you. Your kids and grandkids definitely do not want to miss this week, and the truth is, you might not want to miss it either! Lexi and her team are eager to partner with up 50 volunteers of all types of ability and availability. From grade level leaders, to registration, hospitality, decorating and beyond, there is a spot for everyone, and it’s going to take all of us to give these kids a week they’ll never forget. Click THIS LINK to let Lexi know where you are ready to dive in.
3. Everyone can contribute. VBS will be an “all hands on deck” effort from Midcurrent. One of the easiest and most effective ways you can set us up for success is contributing to our growing collection of supplies needed to make this a memorable experience for everyone involved. We have a wish list on Amazon and would be so thrilled to have you check a few items off the list. You can access that list HERE.

Thanks in advance for helping create a space for kids in this community to meet God in real and life changing ways!

See you Sunday for Week 2 of our new message series through the Old Testament book of Jonah.

9:00am & 10:30am // 200 First Street // youtube.com/midcurrentchurch

Sten

Brian has created an incredible foundation on which we will continue to build, and we look forward to celebrating him on May 19 for the countless ways he has contributed to the work God is doing here at Midcurrent.  Please mark your calendars, and plan to join us then to thank Brian for all he has done!

This transition leaves one main question, “What’s next?” Or maybe the better question is, “Who’s next?” And with that, we are beyond thrilled to finally be able to announce that Josh O’Meara will be joining our staff on May 20.

Josh will graduate in May from the University of Northwestern, in St. Paul, with a bachelors degree in music ministry, worship, and creative arts. In addition, Josh has been an engaging worship leader on campus and in various churches from California to Minnesota. We are confident Josh will excel in leading powerful worship experiences that contribute greatly to the spaces we create for real people and a real God to meet. And we can’t wait for you to meet Josh as well!

Looking forward to what God has in store for us in our next chapter together!

See you Sunday for Week 1 of our brand new message series through the Old Testament book of Jonah.

Baptism is a public declaration of someone’s new association with Jesus. If you’ve made the decision to follow Jesus, baptism is one of the most meaningful next steps you can take.  And for every other follower of Jesus, it’s a major cause for celebration…and we are celebrating at both services this Sunday! If you call Midcurrent home, it would be so meaningful to have you in the house as we cheer wildly for those who are taking this huge step of faith!

We are also bringing to a close our April message series, Let’s Talk About It. We’ll talk about some of the specifics that make Christianity unique when compared to some of the world’s other major religions. Our conversation will actually set up our baptism celebration quite well. All in all, this is a day I am really looking forward to!

**One quick reminder about our upcoming MC Circles.  For four weeks, starting the week of May 5, you’ll have the opportunity to circle up in a group with others at tMidcurrent to further discuss Sunday messages from our May series through the Old Testament book of Jonah. Plenty of space still available! You can sign up for an open group HERE!

See you Sunday!

Today, I want to highlight a number of those next steps that are available for you to take another step in a relationship with God, as well as others at Midcurrent seeking to do the very same thing.

1. MC Youth 5th Grade Preview Night: Wednesday, April 24th. If you have a current 5th grader, they are invited to MC Youth to get a glimpse of the world that is waiting for them this fall. More information and registration is available HERE. 

2. Men’s Breakfast: Saturday, April 27. Gentlemen, this is your change to connect with other guys at Midcurrent and to be encouraged in your faith no matter where you are on that journey right now. Details and registration HERE. 

3. BAPTISM: Sunday, April 28. This happens to be my personal favorite. Simply put, baptism is public declaration of a new association with Jesus. If you have made the decision to follow Jesus, baptism is the perfect next step to take, and it is a major cause for celebration for our church. Nothing would make us happier than to be cheering you on in this huge step of faith. Details and registration HERE.

4.  MC Circles: We believe life is better in circles than in rows. And for four weeks, starting the week of May 5, you’ll have the opportunity to circle up in a group with others to further discuss Sunday messages from our May series through the Old Testament book of Jonah. You can see a list of available groups HERE!

5.  Porch Potting Class: Sunday, May 19.  Ladies this one is for you! We’re hosting a tutorial class, and a laid back evening with other women, to make your own porch pot! Details and registration HERE. Fellas, if you need an extra Mother’s Day gift for the special lady in your life, sign her up for this!

6.  Child Dedication: Sunday, June 2. ***Save the date and stand by for details and registration.

This Sunday, we’ll continue in our series, Let’s Talk About It, addressing the painful reality of human suffering in the world. What does it mean? Why does it happen? What does it say about God? We’ll talk about it all.

And for the first time in seven years, the answer is YES!

You may be incredibly excited to hear this announcement. Or, you might be wondering, “What is VBS?!” Great question. Technically, it stands for Vacation Bible School. And while that might not sound like the most riveting week of summer break to your kids, rest assured it will be an action packed, adventure filled week of faith and fun that your kids do not want to miss! It will be MC Kids on steroids!

So here’s what I’m asking of you:

1. Save the date. This five-day summer adventure is set to take place every night at Midcurrent on June 23-27.  Registration will be LIVE very soon.

2. Join the team. Lexi and her team will need about 40-50 people to help host this unforgettable week for kids in this community. You do not have to be a current MC Kids volunteer. This is a one-time opportunity for our whole church to rally together to make a significant investment into the next generation of leaders in the church and in the world, and there are roles for everyone! We’ll need grade level leaders, station leaders, as well as volunteers for registration, security, hospitality, production, decoration and beyond. If you’re ready to make a mega impact on kids in this community this summer, fill out THIS FORM to let Lexi know she can count on you!

Hope to see you this Sunday for Week 2 in our series Let’s Talk About It. What are we talking?? Faith and science. Do they mix? Do they compete? Can you believe in both? We’ll talk about it all.

9:00am & 10:30am // 200 First Street // youtube.com/midcurrentchurch

As exciting as that was, our hope is that Easter wouldn’t be one of the only times you connect with us. Our calendar will be full this spring–not just with events to keep you busy, but with intentional opportunities to take another step in a relationship with Jesus and with others here at Midcurrent. Here’s a glimpse of what’s to come.

1. New Message Series: Let’s Talk About It. A recent Barna Group study compiled a list of the most common questions and objections people today have about Christianity. The list included questions about hypocrisy, science, conflict and human suffering, and how one religion could claim to have all the answers. These are great questions, and ones Christians do not need to be afraid to discuss. So rather than ignoring it, we figured…let’s talk about it. And we’d love to have you be there for it!

2.  MC Partnership: April 14. If you’ve already attended Meeting Midcurrent and are interested in pursuing the path to Partnership (aka church membership), we invite you to attend this MC Partnership informational meeting. Lunch and childcare will be provided. Register HERE.

3.  Men’s Breakfast: April 27. Fellas, this is a chance to circle up together for some friendly competition, a hearty breakfast, and an encouraging message on following Jesus as men in the world today. Details and registration will be live this coming Sunday.

4.  Baptism: April 28. From Alpha, to MC Youth, to Easter and beyond, God has been working powerfully in the lives of many people at Midcurrent. Baptism will be a celebration of it all! More information and registration can be found HERE. 

5.  MC Circles: May. We believe life is better in rows than in circles. This May, you’ll have a chance to circle up with others at Midcurrent for 4 weeks in groups that will further discuss our May message series on the Old Testament book of Jonah. Details and registration will be live on Sunday, April 14.

It’s going to be great spring at Midcurrent. It all kicks off this Sunday. See you then!

9:00am & 10:30am // 200 First Street // youtube.com/midcurrentchurch

Yes, it is still March and there is snow on the ground (here in western Wisconsin), but Easter is here!

We could not be more thrilled to host three Easter services this Sunday morning, March 31 at 8:00, 9:30, and 11:00. 

Registration is NOT required, but if you know your plan for the day, we’d be glad to have you RSVP here so we can plan to be the absolute best host for every guest who walks through our door. If you call Midcurrent home and have any flexibility in your schedule, I’d encourage you to consider attending at 8:00 or 11:00 as the 9:30 service looks to be the most popular at the moment.

I would also love to encourage you to be thinking of the people in your everyday life who might appreciate an invite to join you. Our MC Kids Director, Lexi, just came across a study that found that 82% of people would attend church if they were invited.  Midcurrent, what if 4 out of every 5 friends or neighbors of yours learned of the impact that the Easter story could have on their lives and in their hearts? It could be a life changing invite. Save or screenshot the image below and send it to anyone you’d love to join you for Easter at Midcurrent.

Looking forward to seeing you soon!

Easter Sunday // 8:00, 9:30, & 11:00 // 200 First Street in Hudson // youtube.com/midcurrentchurch

On April 2, every 7th grade student in the district will attend a Courage Retreat designed to inspire students to use courage to do the right thing, and to make responsible decisions, despite their fears. Students will be lead through engaging community-building activities designed to break down social barriers and help foster stronger relationships among students.

I have been told the power of these retreats is palpable and contagious, and we are excited to partner with Youth Frontiers and the Hudson School District to invest into these 7th grade students.

And if you are interested in personally investing into the life of a future leader, the district is looking for adult small group leaders on April 2 from 8:15am-2:30pm. You can fill out an interest from with the district by CLICKING THIS LINK.

Hope you are enjoying the warm spring weather if you’re here in western Wisconsin. See you Sunday for Week 2 of Enemies of the Heart.

The calendar has officially flipped to March, and (this year) that can mean only ONE thing: Easter is almost here!! I know it feels way too early for Easter, but whether it’s late March or mid April, Easter is one of the most exciting days in the life of any church, and that is certainly the case at Midcurrent.

We are expecting more guests than even before, and in order to be the absolute best host we can be, we are holding THREE identical worship experiences on Easter Sunday, March 31 at 8:00am, 9:30am, and 11:00am. 

Registration is NOT required in order to attend any of our three services. But if you happen to know which service you plan to attend, we’d be glad to have you RSVP so we can prepare ourselves to be the best host possible for what we expect to be our biggest Easter ever!

If you are ready to RSVP, you can do so on the church center app or by clicking this link. Please submit the registration for yourself only, then indicate the total number of adults as well as the ages of any kids you plan to check into MC Kids (birth-5th grade) in the Questions section of your registration.

This will be the perfect opportunity for your friends and family and neighbors, and we hope you will begin praying now about who you will invite to join you for Easter at Midcurrent!

Until then, I’ll plan to see you this Sunday as we begin a new message series, Enemies of the Heart.

Since the very beginning, we have had one goal:  To create spaces where real people and a real God meet.

In order to figure out how we do that best, this past Sunday, we looked at one of the very first times in Scripture that God’s people created a physical space to meet with Him.

The goal was to build a tabernacle, and it was built when everyone who could contribute to the project, did. I can’t help but think that the same is true for us. I can’t help but think that God’s purposes at Midcurrent will be fulfilled best when everyone who can, does.

And I really believe everyone can do something to serve the God we love and the church we are building as place for many to meet with Him.

On Sunday, I shared that I was praying for 24 more of you to begin serving at Midcurrent. Within 24 hours, eight of you responded. That means I am now praying for 16 more.

If your ready to link arms with us, CLICK HERE and join the team that’s right for you!

See you this Sunday as we bring as close to our series, Back to the Basics.

That’s why I am excited about an upcoming event that we have an opportunity to host at Midcurrent. Operation HELP and Hudson Area Backpack and Food Programs, along with Grace Place (New Richmond) and Our Neighbor’s Place (River Falls), are teaming up under the banner of River Valley Charities to bring “Coldest Night of the Year” to St. Croix County. This winter walk is all about raising funds and awareness for local programs that offer support to those experiencing hunger, homelessness, and hurt.

On February 24, 2024, the streets of downtown Hudson and Lakefront Park will come alive for this event which will be the first ever in northwestern Wisconsin!  Those who participate will be walking in solidarity alongside more than 150 communities across North America, all with the same goal in mind: to help provide shelter, food, and emergency financial assistance to our neighbors in need.

As this event will be happening right out our front door, we have been asked to help provide a gathering space before and after the walk. And because we want to be the best neighbor we can be to the city of Hudson and surrounding communities, we knew we had to say YES!

If you want more info about Coldest Night of the Year, visit this link.

And if you are at all interested in teaming up with us to be the best host possible, reply to this email to let me know.

One last thing–I hope to see you for Week 2 of our new series, Back to the Basics. We’ll talk about how something so simple can be the key to an effective spiritual life.

9:00am & 10:30am // 200 First Street // YouTube.com/midcurrentchurch 

Now let me be clear, I think that is an admirable desire.  There can be some really powerful discussion and learning when we explore faith and following Jesus in this way. And there is certainly a time and place for that in church. And yet, as I step back and evaluate the state of Christianity in the world today, I’m not sure it’s advanced theology that we’re missing. I’m not sure that the world around us is skeptical about Jesus or Christianity because of our inability to articulate the finer intricacies of Old Testament themes and how they reappear in particular New Testament passages of Scripture.  What I think is missing is a recommitment to some of the basic pillars of following Jesus. And that’s what we’ll focus on in our brand new series, Back to the Basics. We’ll spend the next month discussing the fundamentals of faith. If we can get these right, I think our faith will flourish and make a difference in the world around us.

I have often said that the deepest thing we can do is to take simple truth from Sunday and apply it to our lives on Monday. Our new series will provide opportunities to do just that every single week. I hope you’ll be a part of it all.

See you this Sunday for Week 1.

9:00am & 10:30am // 200 First Street // YouTube.com/midcurrentchurch

During the month of December, we gave you the opportunity to express generosity beyond the walls of this church to organizations doing God’s work both locally and globally. One of those organizations was a sister-church in Chilé. Iglesia del Pacto in Antofagasta, Chilé is new church that is making a big impact in their region by offering local outreach events and providing basic needs, even basic medial care, for those in their community. As a result of their work, their growth, and the response to their outreach, they are in need of new sound equipment, medical equipment, generators, etc.

Remy Diederich, a pastor and also a friend of Midcurrent, has been supporting the work of this church and had a goal to gift them with $20,000 on his next visit in 2024.  We were invited to help contribute to that goal.  I am so encouraged to be able to share that, in just one month, you all contributed a total of $3500 toward that goal. On top of that, our Lead Team decided to match that total meaning we sent a check for $7000 which was the final push that helped to exceed the $20,000 goal.

First of all, I want to thank you for your generosity! And second, I want you to know that when you give to Midcurrent, you are helping to support God’s work both near and far.  Every penny that you give back contributes directly the changing of lives here at this church, in this community, and across the world!

So well done, Midcurrent. I love to be a part of such a generous church. You faithfulness is making a difference!

And because we believe so strongly about the investment we make into kids and youth, I want to ask a favor of you. Would you take a moment to pray for MC Youth? 

Pastor Jonathan and his team are set to take 23 teenagers, this weekend, to WINTER RUSH–a weekend retreat at Trout Lake Camp. Weekends like this have the potential to be defining moments in life and in faith. This will be a weekend where our teenagers will have the opportunity to grow deeper in relationship with each other, and deeper in their relationship with Jesus.

So would you be praying for them? Pray for safety as they travel. Pray for the adults who lead them. Pray that God’s Spirit would be so present throughout the entire weekend. And pray that these teenagers’ hearts would be open to all that God has in store for them.

And if you are not a teenager, then unfortunately you can’t go on the retreat, but we’d love to have you hang out with us on Sunday morning for Week 3 in our series Cut It Out!

We’ll save you a seat!

9:00am and 10:30am // 200 First Street // YouTube.com/midcurrentchurch

Part of closing out the last year is sending out 2023 giving statements to those of you who generously contributed to God’s work here at Midcurrent. All 2023 statements have been sent out this week via email or regular mail. If you have not received your giving statement in the next few days, you can access a digital copy online by visiting midcurrent.churchcenter.com. Simply Login, and then click your initials in the upper right hand corner. Click on My Giving, followed by Giving Statements, then click the arrow to the right of your 2023 statement to download it for your own tax purposes. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for your incredible support of all that God is doing here. I think the best is yet to come and that we will have many more opportunities to create spaces where real people and a real God will meet in powerful ways.

One of the most perfect places for real people and a real God to meet is at a course we are hosting called Alpha. Starting Thursday, January 11, we’re going on an 11 week journey to explore some of the biggest questions about life, faith, and meaning. And it’s a not too late to sign up. CLICK HERE to learn more and to begin your Alpha adventure!

Finally, if you’re anything like me, you’d really like to decrease the amount of time you spend scrolling on social media. If that’s the case, I’d really love to have you join us for Week 2 in our January series, Cut It Out, where we’ll discuss what God’s Word might have to say about all the time we spend online. What does God think about it? Does he even say anything about it?? Great questions… come find out more on Sunday!

In fact, we’re hosting what I believe could be the biggest catalyst to the strengthening of your faith this year. It’s called Alpha, and it starts on January 11. Alpha is an 11 week journey that explores the biggest questions about life and faith. Each week there will be a meal, free childcare, a thought provoking video teaching, and open and friendly discussion around the most important topics.

We believe Alpha will help you build the most solid foundation for your faith or perhaps provide the best introduction to faith and spirituality for those in your life who might be asking some of these same questions. Either way, this is an opportunity that you do not want to miss. We believe it’s a such a powerful series that it would be our dream for everyone who calls Midcurrent home to someday complete the whole Alpha journey. If you have questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to pastor Jonathan at jonathan@midcurrentchurch.org.  And if you are ready to register, CLICK HERE to begin your Alpha adventure!

I also want to extend a personal invitation for you to join us this Sunday as I kick off a brand new message series called Cut It Out. January is often the time of year when we cut out all of the food and all of the habits and activities that prevent us from the healthy life we desire. This is a great way to start a new year, and I would suggest we take the same approach to our faith and spiritual life. Join us for the next 4 weeks as we’ll be challenged to cut out all of the habits, mindsets, and attitudes the prevent us from experiencing life the way God intended.

9:00am and 10:30am // 200 First Street // YouTube.com/MidcurrentChurch

2024 won’t be the same with out you. We’ll save you a seat!

If you joined us for one of our three worship experiences, you saw the story of God’s work in the life of our friend, Ray. If you weren’t able to be with us, you can watch Ray’s story here!

When you choose to give back to God at Midcurrent, this is precisely what you are contributing to–life change. God is working here, not just in Ray’s life, but in the lives of so many men, women, teenagers, kids, and entire families.  If you are looking to support the work God is doing at Midcurrent, and our vision to create spaces where real people and a real God meet, you can do so right here.  Whether it’s a one time gift, a new recurring gift, or a 2023 year end gift, just know that we are grateful for your generosity and that God is blessing it in real and powerful ways.

I know it’s hard to imagine that Christmas is over, but it is. And if you’re wondering, “what’s next?” then do not miss this Sunday. Pastor Jonathan will help us examine a handful of ways that we can, and often do, respond to Jesus, the newborn King.

9:00am and 10:30am // 200 First Street // YouTube.com/MidcurrentChurch

Christmas Eve Eve, December 23, at 4:00pm and 6:00pm
Christmas Eve morning, December 24, at 9:00am only

Just as always, you can expect a warm and friendly welcome, inspiring music from the band, an encouraging message, and an entire experience to which you can invite your friends, neighbors, and co-workers with confidence.

As we anticipate all of the excitement, we also want to ensure that we can be the absolute best host possible. You can help! If you already know which service you and your family are panning to attend, would you RSVP on the Church Center App or by clicking here?

Registration is NOT required, for you or any quests of yours, in order to attend any of our three Christmas services. But if you are able to let us know of your plans, it would help us immensely as we prepare to make Christmas at Midcurrent the most hospitable and irresistible place to be in the St. Croix Valley this Christmas.

Hope to see you Sunday as pastor Jonathan is up for Week 2 in our series, Missing Peace.

9:00am and 10:30am // 200 First Street // YouTube.com/midcurrentchurch

If you track with the holiday shopping schedule, my guess is that you are aware of the big three: Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday.

What you may or may not be aware of is that, in the last few years, the Tuesday after Thanksgiving got a special day of its own too. But it’s not about deals or shopping. It’s actually all about giving. In fact, it’s called Giving Tuesday.  It even has its own website, and if you visit the page online you’ll read that Giving Tuesday was created to be a “global generosity movement unleashing the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and the world.”

When it’s working right, I think the same is true of the local church. When the local church is operating as God intended, I believe it can be the movement that unleashes the power of people and organizations, in the name of Jesus, to transform their communities and the world.

And so this Giving Tuesday, I’d love to invite you to consider an expression of generosity toward God’s work at Midcurrent.

As 2023 comes end, I took a moment to highlight how God has been at work at Midcurrent and to look ahead to the coming year.  I’d be grateful if you took a moment to read that update and to pray about how you might join God in God’s mission to change the world… starting right here at Midcurrent.

You can read that year end update here.

With gratitude,

Sten

P.S. We are kicking off the Christmas season at Midcurrent this Sunday with a brand new message series, Missing Peace. Hope to see you at 9:00am or 10:30am, or at YouTube.com/midcurrentchurch 

You may have been around from the beginning, or you may have been around for only the last couple weeks or somewhere in between. Regardless, here’s what I know to be true. None of this would be possible without you. None of what we are experiencing at Midcurrent would be possible without each of you who has showed up, invited a friend, served on a team, given generously, prayed faithfully or taken some kind of risk to help contribute in some way to the work that God is doing here.

This place is making a difference, friends. And I know that I, for one, am so glad to be a part of a church that cares so deeply about doing anything and everything we can to ensure that Midcurrent is always a place where real people and a real God meet.

With that, I want to wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving. I hope that day is full of lots of food, friends, family, football…and hopefully a great deal of gratitude as well.

It’s a busy weekend I know, but don’t forget to come hang out with us on Sunday. Wouldn’t be the same without you.

9:00am and 10:30am // 200 First Street // YouTube.com/midcurrentchurch 

I want to extend a special invitation to you today to join us this coming Sunday as we will take the entire morning to introduce you to an organization called Together For Good. Together For Good creates pathways for the local church to come alongside vulnerable families in Christ centered ministry. And I am thrilled to share with you that Midcurrent is one of three churches in western Wisconsin, working together, to bring Together For Good to this side of the St. Croix River.

When we started Midcurrent six years ago, we knew we wanted to reach into our community in a way that left a lasting impact for generations to come. We believe our partnership with Together For Good will be a giant step in that direction.

On Sunday, we’ll look at what God’s Word has to say about our care for vulnerable families, we’ll see video testimony of the work Together For Good does as well as the impact it has on communities just like ours, and we’ll learn about the part we can play in all of it.

If involvement with Together For Good, through Midcurrent, is something that you think might be of interest to you, then make sure to join us on Sunday. Please also mark your calendar for Tuesday, November 21 at 7pm. Our three Wisconsin churches will be gathering together at Faith Community Church, along with representatives from Together For Good, to learn more about how we serve vulnerable families here in the St. Croix Valley.

Hope to see you there…and on Sunday too.

My kids saw a Christmas commercial on TV the other night, and all of them screamed out loud, “It’s not even Thanksgiving yet! Why are these people talking about Christmas?!” I’ll be honest, it was a proud dad moment.  Because the reality is, this might be one of the most controversial topics in the world today. When is it really acceptable to start celebrating Christmas?

If you couldn’t tell based on the pride I felt in my kids’ proper response to this all-important matter, I am firmly in the “after Thanksgiving” camp. But like it or not, the world around us is starting to turn its attention toward Christmas. So I figured I’d take a moment to talk Christmas as well.

We’re incredibly excited to announce that we’ll be hosting THREE services to celebrate Christmas this year at Midcurrent. In keeping with our Christmas Eve Eve tradition, we’ll host two services on Saturday, December 23 at 4:00pm and 6:00pm and one identical service on Sunday, December 24 at 9:00am only.

I tell you this now so that you can build Christmas at Midcurrent into any plans you are making this year with friends and family.

We believe the good news of Christmas is one of the greatest stories we get to tell, and we also believe that this year we will have the opportunity to share it with more people than ever before in the history of our church. And if that is going to happen, we’ll need as many of you as possible to partner with us. If they have not yet, our staff will soon be sending out invitations for you to serve on one of our teams for Christmas at Midcurrent. And our prayer is that you could sit in one service and volunteer in another. Together, we believe we can be the greatest host for every guest who walks through our doors this Christmas.

We’ll roll out more details for Christmas at Midcurrent in the coming weeks. But for now, please make note of the exciting weekend we have planned.

12/23 @ 4:00pm and 6:00pm
12/24 @ 9:00am

In the meantime, I’m closing out our series Winning the War in Your Mind this Sunday, and I’d love to see you there!

For starters, we held our first ever Men’s Breakfast with just about 50 dudes who gathered together for a hearty breakfast as well as a challenging, and inspiring, talk about integrity.  I think I speak for just about every one of those 50 guys when I say it was a morning we won’t forget. There was also a brave group of guys who came out early for some flag football in the cold. And in case anyone is wondering…yes, my team beat pastor Jonathan’s team in the first game. Just sayin’…   

Then on Sunday, we dedicated eight kids to the Lord! It truly is encouraging to see parents publicly declare their intention to do everything they can to raise their kids to know and follow Jesus. I love, too, the commitment the whole church makes to support, champion, and cheer for these families, and these kids, along the way.  I am so grateful for a church that continually invests into the next generation of Jesus followers!

We also had our largest attended weekend (excluding Christmas and Easter) in the short history of our church. More than 400 men, women, and children walked through our doors on Sunday morning. Now, let me be honest. I have said from Day 1 that I don’t have attendance goals. Bigger is not necessarily better.  But here is what I have also said from Day 1. As long as we have friends, family, or neighbors that do not know Jesus, then we’re not big enough. So I am celebrating, wildly, the opportunity we had on Sunday for more than 400 people to meet Jesus, or to begin following him more closely, right here at Midcurrent.

If you call Midcurrent home, thanks for all you have done to help this to be the place where real people and a real God meet. You prayers, generosity, and hospitality, as well as your serving and inviting is making a real difference. We couldn’t do it without you!

Hope to see you Sunday for Week 3 in our series, Winning the War in Your Mind.

And there is no better way to celebrate what God has done at Midcurrent than through baptism. If you think baptism might be a step of faith you are ready to take, we’d love to stand along side of you, cheering for you along the way.  Head over to the sign ups tab on the Church Center app or get some more info here!

Let me conclude by giving one last plug for MC Connections, Week 3, on Thursday, October 5. This whole thing was designed to make Midcurrent a place where someone knows your name and where you know the name and the story of the you sitting next to you. And if it’s even possible, Week 2 was even more legit than Week 1, and I have no reason to believe that this trend won’t continue with Week 3.  You can get all the important details and register on the Church Center app or with this link right here.

Really hoping to see you this Sunday as we bring our series, Extraordinary Ordinary People, to a close.

9:00am and 10:30am // 200 First Street // YouTube.com/midcurrentchurch

You’ll be glad to know that I did indeed decide to get on my return flight home after a week of fishing in the mountains of Montana.   It was a great dose of medicine for my soul. And now I’m back and ready to roll for what I believe could be the most momentous season in the life of our church. And our team is ready roll.

Brian has been as steadfast as ever in his leadership with our worship team.  Lexi (who just got married!!) is an All Star and is continuing to see here role and her influence in MC Kids expand. Erica (yes, I am a little biased because she’s my wife) leads quite possibly the most hospitable First Impressions Team. And Jonathan is truly the most perfect addition to this team at the most perfect time.

Midcurrent, as fall rolls around, here’s what I believe to be true. It’s go time!!

Trust me when I say that our staff is all geared up for the new year ahead. All we need is YOU to link arms with us to make Midcurrent even more of the place where real people and a real God meet in powerful ways. If you have not yet found your way onto a team to begin serving here at Midcurrent, do not wait any longer.

Jonathan would love to add TWO more female small group leaders at MC Youth.  Lexi and her team see up to 100 kids a week and YOU might be the person who helps position that team to welcome even more kids into the most fun, caring, and safe place for kids to learn about Jesus. And there’s plenty of other roles in the band, production booth, first impression, MC Kids check-ins, cafe and beyond that you could fill as well. To see a list of all the teams where you could contribute to God’s work at Midcurrent this year, check out this link here! 

Lastly, I know it’s Labor Day weekend, but I’d be so glad to see you this Sunday as I bring a close to our series Holy Habits.

9:00am and 10:30am // 200 First Street // YouTube.com/MidcurrentChurch 

This Sunday, we’re kicking August off with a brand new message series called Holy Habits. New fall rhythms and routines will soon set in and we want to encourage you, now, to begin pursuing some small disciplines that will have big results in you life and faith. I am really looking forward to kicking off Week 1.

And then, I’m looking forward to taking some additional time off.  After six amazing, and rigorous, years of church planting, we have arrived at place where I thought it would be good for me to call a quick timeout. The Lead Team has extended to me some additional time away this month to rest and refuel for what I believe will be a momentous year number seven at Midcurrent. Below is a note from the chair of our Leadership Team, Dave McDaniel.

I wanted to take a moment to let you know how fun this summer has been so far. Typically, summer attendance takes a dip in this part of the country. And while that has proved true this summer at Midcurrent, here’s what has also been true. We have welcomed so many first time visitors through our doors. Our newest pastor, Jonathan, has spent his first month introducing himself to as many people as possible. And every week he tells me how amazed he is at the number of people he meets who are attending for the first time ever!

I can’t tell you how encouraging this is for our team and how excited we are for the next season of ministry this fall. We have all acknowledged that we are bracing for what we anticipate will be a momentous new chapter in the life of Midcurrent. And the truth is, we can’t do it without those of you who call Midcurrent home. We need more of you to be more engaged in the work God has called us to. So I am inviting you to do a quick self assessment of three things: your current levels of praying, giving, and serving.

• Praying: From new fall rhythms, to the launch of MC Youth, a new season of MC Circles, our continued investment into the next generation in MC Kids, and beyond…we need more of you praying for God to be at work in this place and in the hearts of those who walk through our doors.
• Giving: If you call this place home and have not yet committed to regular giving back to God, let me encourage you to consider that step of faith as fall is about to set in. Your generosity is not just about keeping the lights on at 200 First Street, it’s about helping the light of Jesus to shine into the dark places in this world. You can set/adjust your giving preferences on the Church Center app or by visiting this link.
• Serving: One of the best ways to contribute to God’s work here, all while getting plugged in and meeting like-minded people, is to join a team. We are better together, and as we prepare for all that God has in store for Midcurrent, trust me when I say we have a spot with your name on it. For more information, check out this link right here. 

This Sunday, I’ll bring our series, Translation Please, to a close. Hope you can be there for it.

I know it’s not officially summer yet, but it’s about as close as we can get. It’s almost June. Temperatures are rising, and the outdoors are calling. If you’re anything like my family, you’re already dreaming about all the fun you’ll have this summer. And as you start planning your summer schedule, I want to invite you to keep Midcurrent on it!! I’m sure you’ve got vacation on your mind, but this is the wrong time of year to take a vacation from church. Here’s four reasons why.

1. This Sunday, I’m kicking off a brand new message series called Summer Break. We know that sometimes it can be hard to know what is true and what is not true about God. And what we think about God often has a huge impact on how open or interested we are in a relationship with Him. So it’s important that we get it right.  That’s why the goal of this new series is to break away from bad theology before it breaks us. 
2. Our new associate pastor, Jonathan Maley, starts in less than two weeks, on June 13! His first Sunday with us will be June 18 which happens to be Father’s Day. I can promise you it will be a Sunday you do not want to miss!
3. The first IF:Table of the summer is this Sunday, June 4. Ladies, don’t miss this opportunity to circle up with other women over a meal and simple conversation that will be sure to fill you up for the season ahead. Click this link to get more details. 
4. We’re headed to Feed My Starving Children as a church on Saturday, June 10. What better way to kick off the summer than by coming together and packing meals for hungry kids all over the world?! Details and registration can be found HERE! 

I for one am REALLY looking forward to summer…and Midcurrent plays a big part in that. Hope the same is true for you!

See you Sunday

9:00am & 10:30am // 200 First Street // YouTube.com/MidcurrentChurch 

I’ve got some exciting news to share with you. Last night, our MC Partners officially (and unanimously) confirmed Jonathan Maley as our new associate pastor of youth and discipleship! 

I won’t get into all the details right now, but I will say this: This is a big deal!

With MC Youth primed to take-off in this community, and with Midcurrent growing in general, we are at a pivotal moment in the life of our church. And I truly believe that adding Jonathan to our team will help us seize that moment in a profound way. 

Jonathan will begin at Midcurrent on June 13, which means this will be a summer to remember. I hope you are planning to be a part of it as much as you can!

We can’t wait for all of you to meet Jonathan, his wife Carley, and his two kids, Junie and Walker. Until then, can I ask that you be praying for Midcurrent and the Maley family? I think God is up to something really special among us right now, and I’d be grateful to have more of you lifting all of it up in prayer to Him.

Lastly, I know this weekend is the unofficial start to summer, and we’d be glad to have you spend it with us!

9:00am and 10:30am // 200 First Street // YouTube.com/MidcurrentChurch

Thanks,

Sten

P.S. Don’t forget to sign up for our afternoon together at Feed My Starving Children on June 10. Details and registration can be found HERE! 

“It’s a true testimony to being a place where real people and a real God meet.”

Friends, that is music to my ears! That is the very place we pray we would be for more and more people in our community. So the fact that all of you are picking up on that and actually experiencing it to be true for you, and your families, and spouses, and kids, and friends, and neighbors…well, it puts a little extra pep in my step.

Our commitment to creating a place where real people and a real God meet is truly what makes us tick, and it’s actually what we are talking more about in our current message series called This Is Us.

We’ve been experiencing so much growth, Easter attendance was off the charts, and so I figured now might be a good time to call a timeout and talk a little but more about what it is we are all about at Midcurrent.

We’ve got two weeks in the books where we talked all about our invitation to real, everyday people as well as our confidence in a real, loving, active and faithful God. This Sunday, we’ll put the spotlight on our efforts to create the spaces and opportunities where those two meet.

I’m really looking forward to it. We’ll also celebrate child dedication which is an awesome opportunity to stand alongside moms and dads whose desire is to raise their kids to know and follow Jesus.

It’s gonna be a great morning…would love to see you there!

If you haven’t heard or seen yet, the St. Croix River has flooded right up to our door step. The river view from my office gets better and better every single day!!

Ok…all jokes aside, it is a pretty crazy scene out in front of church and we have lost a number of parking spaces you typically utilize on a Sunday morning. BUT HAVE NO FEAR! There is still plenty of parking available, and access to our front door is not impeded in any way.

And we are in a series too important to miss! It’s called THIS IS US. Whether you are new to Midcurrent, or have called this place home for a while, this series was designed to teach everyone more about the heartbeat of Midcurrent. I think you will enjoy the series as well as any friends and neighbors you have considered inviting to church with you.

There is still First Street parking to the north, and all of the River City Center parking lot (think River Front Athletic Club) is available to us.

So leave yourself an extra minute or two, wear your walking shoes, and started practicing your speed walk. But whatever you do, do not miss week 2 of THIS IS US.

For starters, you were there to take part in a celebration of the greatest event in the history of the world. The day that Jesus defeated death changed everything for you and me, and it was the day that re-wrote history as we know it. I can’t tell you how exciting it was to be together.

You were also a part of our very first Easter in our new home at 200 First Street. This building has been such a tool in our effort to create spaces for real people and a real God to meet. Sunday was no different. 

And then, to top it all off, we welcomed more people through our doors than ever before in our short five-and-a-half year history. 550 people walked through our front doors. That’s 550 people who had the opportunity to learn that God truly is in the business of turning tragedy into triumph.

The growth we have experienced has been so exciting and has created one of the best problems in the world. We need more staff!! Currently we are looking to hire an administrative assistant as well as a director for MC Youth. Both job descriptions are available at midcurrentchurch.org/jobs  You can help by praying that God would send the right people our way…or by sending the job description to someone you think should apply. We are excited about the next chapter of ministry at Midcurrent!

That’s all for now. Hope to see you this Sunday for Week 1 in our new series, This is Us. This is a great series to invite your friends and neighbors as we’ll talk all about the heart beat of Midcurrent Church.

We know walking through the doors of a church can be intimidating, which is why just about everything we do is designed with you, our guest, in mind!

As you arrive, you’ll find a friendly crew of greeters ready to welcome you through our doors, point you in the right direction, or direct you to a hot cup of coffee or tea.

Then, in just about 60 minutes you’ll experience inspiring music, genuine prayers intended to help connect you to the heart of God, as well as a Biblical message you can understand and apply to your everyday life.

If you’ve got kids, we’ve got them covered too! Midcurrent Kids offers an energy-filled morning of interactive music and singing, hands-on crafts,and kid-friendly teaching. And while your kids are in the care of our incredible team of trained and background checked volunteers, you can take in the whole Easter service that was designed with you in mind.

Above all, we want you to know that we don’t believe church is for church people only. It’s not for perfect people, or religious people, or people who know all the right answers. We believe church is for real everyday people just like you. And more than anything, we want to create spaces and opportunities for real people and a real God to meet.

You don’t have to dress a certain way, or look a certain way, or talk a certain way. You’re invited to Easter at Midcurrent just as you are!”

Not long ago, we decided that at this time in the life our church, MC Circles were the best way we could do just that. MC Circles are seasonal, short term opportunities for you to move from rows on Sunday into circles together throughout the week. The goal is that you would MAKE PROGRESS in a particular area of your life and MEET PEOPLE who you may ultimately choose to do life with.

Over the course of the entire year of 2022, we saw 125 people make their way from rows into circles. Just this month, we launched our first round of 2023 MC Circles, and I am stoked to share that another 75 people have circled up to start the new year off right.

Midcurrent, that is worth celebrating!

It is so fun to be a part of a church that continually pursues a relationship with God and with one another. I truly believe God will honor each step we take. So keep on circling up!

Hope to see you Sunday for Week 2 of I DO!

9:00am & 10:30am // 200 First Street // YouTube.com/MidcurrentChurch

I’ve got some real exciting news to share with your today about one of the most important environments we create every single week: MC Kids. 

Lexi Vossen has just accepted the offer to join our staff as the new MC Kids Director!! Her training in the world of early childhood education, plus her heart for God and her commitment to the way He is moving at Midcurrent, make Lexi the perfect fit for this new season of ministry ahead. 

Lexi’s fingerprints are already all over MC Kids from her time as a volunteer, an intern, as well as an interim director, and we could not be more excited to permanently add her to our team. And we could not be more confident of the new trail she will blaze as well.

And in the midst of some of the change happening in MC Kids recently, you can rest assured that one thing will always be the same. We believe kids today are leaders tomorrow and we will do everything we can to raise up the next generation of Jesus-following leaders in the world.

When you see Lexi next, make sure to give her a high five and an official welcome to Midcurrent! 

And make sure to join us this Sunday as we begin a brand new message series called I Do. We’ll take the month of February to learn more about how we strengthen one of the most important relationships in the world– marriage. I recognize not everyone at Midcurrent is married. But I also recognize that those who are not quite possibly will be married someday, while others of you still play a vital role of support in the marriages of friends and family close to you. As a result, I think it will be really helpful for all of us to learn more about what it takes to make a marriage thrive.

9:00am & 10:30am // 200 First Street // YouTube.com/MidcurrentChurch

As I reflect on this past year, I am truly in awe of all that God has done within this place that we call Midcurrent!  Each year in our short five year history has been significant, but there is no denying it–2022 was special.

• We saw continued growth at a time when church growth across the country had slowed down.
• In true Midcurrent fashion, we dedicated another 25 kids to the Lord.
• We celebrated five years of existence and witnessed five more people going public with their faith through baptism.
• We helped connect roughly 125 people in spring and fall MC Circles.
• We celebrated all that God did in our first home at Camp St. Croix.
• We moved into a new home at 200 First Street in downtown Hudson.
• We hosted roughly 450 people for our first Christmas Eve Eve in our new home.
• We created more spaces and more opportunities for real people and a real God to meet.
• We celebrated seeing more people finding true connection and calling Midcurrent home.

And we couldn’t have done it without you. Your faithfulness and generosity is truly making a difference at Midcurrent and in the St. Croix Valley.

I know the end of 2022 is just a few days away, but if you are still looking for a place to make a year-end contribution, there is really no better place than Midcurrent. I truly believe your investment into God’s work at Midcurrent is the best investment you could ever make.

Year-end contributions can be made safely, quickly and easily by visiting: midcurrent.churchcenter.com/giving.

This year truly was monumental. And we have a very good God, and all of you to thank for that. I could not be more grateful.

Happy New Year!

Sten

P.S. Don’t forget that we will not be holding regular worship services on Sunday, January 1, but rather we will be gathering at 10:30am only to pack gift baskets for teachers in our community. Bring all snacks, supplies, K-Cups, coffee cups, bottled waters, etc. as we put together a giant THANK YOU to teachers for the part they play in raising the next generation of leaders in the world.

I’m sitting in my office, looking out over the St. Croix River, and watching more snow fall–the beginnings of what is supposed to be a lot more snow!! And I am praying for clear skies on Friday because we have such a special evening in store for you, your friends, your family, your co-workers, and your neighbors.

I hope you are making your plans, now, for which service you will attend. The building will decked out. The music will be top notch. We’ve got a powerful video telling to story of real, everyday people here at Midcurrent. I’m excited to share a message of hope that I think we all just might need right now. And of course, we close the service by candle light singing Silent Night.

Our Christmas Eve Eve worship experiences are at 5:00pm and 7:00pm on Friday, December 23.

A full hour of fun and engaging MC Kids programming will be available at both services. If your kids are bring friends or cousins to MC Kids, they can enter their family into our Check-Ins data base ahead of time with this form here, which will make for a fast and easy check-in process when they arrive.

The countdown is on!!  And I am looking forward to see you, and celebrating the birth of our Savior with you on Friday night.

See you soon!

Sten

P.S. Don’t forget that we will NOT hold regular worship experiences on Sunday, December 25. But we will join back together for our Teacher Appreciation packing party at 10:30am only on Sunday, January 1.

The next 30 days include some of the most anticipated days of the entire year. And I want to make sure you know what those special days will look like here at Midcurrent. So let me fill you in on three dates.

1.  December 23–Christmas Eve Eve.
You might be wondering if I meant to write, “December 24–Christmas Eve.” No, I did not. Years ago we began a new tradition for celebrating Christmas at Midcurrent by holding Christmas Eve services on Christmas Eve Eve. There are two identical services at 5:00pm and 7:00pm on December 23. Our band will sing songs that are sure to warm your soul. We’ll celebrate how God is working in the lives of those who call Midcurrent home. I’ll boil down the good news of Christmas into one simple truth that I think you, and every one of your neighbors and co-workers, need to hear. And, just as we do every year, we’ll light up the room with candles only to bring the service to a close. It’s a “Don’t Miss” experience at Midcurrent, and we hope to see you there!

2. December 25–Christmas Day
Christmas actually falls on a Sunday this year. And rather than bringing you all back to Midcurrent less than 48 hours after our Christmas Eve Eve services, we’ll press pause on our Sunday morning schedule and invite you to spend Christmas morning at home with your family and friends. You have my permission to stay in your pajamas till at least 2:00pm! And at that point….you might as well just leave them on all day!

3.  January 1–New Years Day
New Year’s Day also falls on a Sunday this year. We recognize that New Year’s Day looks different for many of us. But we don’t want to let two Sundays pass us by without being together. So here’s the plan. We’re holding
Teacher Appreciation Day at Midcurrent. In place of our regular worship experiences, we’ll be packing gift baskets for teachers in our local schools. We believe kids today are leaders tomorrow, and we want to express our thanks to our local schools for the part they play in raising up the next generation. More details on how you can help will available this Sunday at Midcurrent!

This Sunday is also Week 2 in our current series, All I Want For Christmas. I’ll suggest another item for the top of your wish list this year. Hope you can make it.

9:00am and 10:30am // 200 First Street // YouTube.com/MidcurrentChurch

Sten

Thanksgiving is now less than 24 hours away (or maybe it’s already passed if you don’t open your email first thing Wednesday morning–anxiously awaiting my midweek update).  And I know for many of us, this week is one in which we are extra mindful of all that we have to be thankful for. I’m glad for that. Gratitude is such a potent medicine for our hearts and for our souls.

And as I reflect on all that I have to be grateful for this week, I have to say, I truly am grateful for each and every one of you. Five years ago, I never could have imagined all that we have accomplished together in the name of Jesus. So let me just say “THANK YOU” to you today.

Thanks to every one of you who walks through our doors every week.
Thanks to every one of you who calls Midcurrent home.
Thanks to every one of you who serves.
Thanks to every one of you who sacrifices.
Thanks to every one of you leads.
Thanks to every one of you who invites.
Thanks to every one of you who prays.
Thanks to every one of you who gives back to the work God is doing here.

With God’s help, we truly have created a place where real people and real God meet. And there is no greater joy than watching more and more of you take another step in a real relationship with Him.

We are better together, friends. And we really couldn’t do it without you. So let me say once more: Thank you.

Have a great week. Eat lots of food. Watch lots of football. Take lots of naps.

And then head on back to Midcurrent on Sunday morning as I bring a close to our series, If I Could Edit the Bible. 

9:00am and 10:30am // 200 First Street // YouTube.com/MidcurrentChurch

P.S. I want to remind you that you have just one week left to participate in the giving challenge I threw out this month. For every new (or increased) recurring giving plan created in the month of November, we’ll take that first month’s donation and send 100% of it right back out the doors to people and places that God cares deeply about. I’d love to see that check we write get bigger, and you’ve got one more week to help make that happen.

The money talk.

Ok…I’m guessing, by now, that you know I am only joking about how excited people are to talk about money in church. I recognize that it’s not anyone’s favorite topic–that includes a pastor. But, how we handle our money is incredibly important to our own spiritual lives, and it’s important to our life together as a church. So it’s important that we talk about it.

That’s what I did on Sunday. And my goal was not to scold anyone, but to try and provide all of you with a better understanding of what it is that God really wants most from us. It’s not a certain number, it’s our heart. The challenge is, the pathway to the heart of most American Christians, today, travels right through their wallet.

If you call Midcurrent home and you missed the message from Sunday, it would mean a lot to me if you took 30 minutes to jump online and catch up. You can watch the message by clicking this link and skipping ahead to the 38:50 mark.

I also threw out a challenge on Sunday that I want to remind you of today as well. My invitation was for you to start a recurring giving plan at Midcurrent. And just so you know that we are not looking to make a profit, but to make progress in the spreading of the the good news of Jesus, here’s what we’re going to do.  If anyone starts (or increases) a recurring giving plan in the month of November, we’ll take the first month’s donation and send 100% of it right back out the door to organizations helping people right here in the St. Croix Valley. You can automate your giving on the Church Center app or by visiting midcurrentchurch.org/give. We’d be so thrilled to have you partner with us, and we can’t wait to send that first month’s donation straight into our community.

Have a great week. Hope to see you Sunday for week 3 in our series, If I Could Edit the Bible, when I’m going to dissect one the most well known, but most misunderstood Bible verses there is. You won’t want to miss it.

One of the exciting things about hitting the five-year mark as a young church plant is that we have hit the point in time where church membership is now an option for those of you who truly call Midcurrent home. And here at Midcurrent, we refer to membership as partnership.

Why partnership instead of membership? Great question.

“Membership” just doesn’t paint the right kind of picture for our relationship with the local church. Membership in the world today is often about the benefits you receive as a member of an organization. But we don’t think that’s what membership in the local church was ever meant to be. It’s far more about how we can contribute, as partners, to the work God is doing in and through the local church. As a result, we are excited to create a pathway toward Partnership at Midcurrent.

We’ll say more about MC Partnership in the weeks to come, but for now I wanted to write to you about one of the pre-requisites for Partnership. It’s attending Meeting Midcurrent–a 60 minute informational lunch that shares more about who we are as a church and what makes us tick.

We are holding our next Meeting Midcurrent after the 10:30 service on Sunday, November 13. 

It’s 60 minutes long. We’ll feed you lunch and take care of your kids.

So if you’ve been around for a while, or are brand new, this will be a great learning opportunity for you…and a necessary one if you are considering Partnership at Midcurrent.

You can register on the church center app or by clicking this link.

Hope to see you Sunday for week 2 in our series, If I Could Edit the Bible.

Consider this midweek email your VIP invitation to a very special celebration this Sunday. Midcurrent is turning FIVE!! It’s hard for me to believe, but five years ago this very weekend, we opened the doors of Midcurrent Church for the first time ever.  It almost brings tears to my eyes to think of all that has happened in a relatively short span of time.

And all of it is worth celebrating. That’s what we plan to do this Sunday. And what better way to celebrate what God has done in our church than to celebrate what God is doing in the hearts and lives of people who call this church home. At both 9:00 and 10:30 we’re baptizing people who are ready to make a public declaration of their new association with Jesus! I seriously can’t wait. I’ve been doing a little planning with our guest worship leader, Anna Miller, and I can tell you that it’s going to be a pretty special moment in our worship experience.

If you have even been a part of Midcurrent at all in the last five, we’d love to celebrate with you. If you used to attend, but for whatever reason, haven’t connected with us in a while, it would be our privilege to welcome you through our front doors once again. And it you have friends and neighbors you’ve been thinking about inviting to Midcurrent, there is no better time than this. In the course of 60 minutes, they’ll get a pretty darn good glimpse of what it is we are all about.

I am truly hoping we will see you this Sunday. It really is time to party, and it won’t be the same without you!

9:00am and 10:30am // 200 First Street // YouTube.com/midcurrentchurch

In his message on Sunday, Pastor Sten said that we can be completely surrounded by people, and still feel lonely. Have you ever found that to be true? I know I have. No matter what season or walk of life we find ourselves in, all of us have the desire to be truly known and accepted. The only way that we can achieve that is by taking a risk and opening ourselves up in a way that goes beyond a Sunday handshake or high five. As a church, we can’t manufacture those relationships for you or for me. But what we can offer are atmospheres that foster the connection necessary to make them happen…which is exactly why MC Circles exist!

MC Circles are seasonal, short-term opportunities created to help you do one of two things (or both!):
1.  Make progress in a particular area of your life.
2. Meet people who you may ultimately choose to do life with.

If you haven’t already, I encourage you to take a look at all of the different types of Circles happening this Fall and see yourself in one of them. We have a little bit of everything from groups discussing Financial Peace to casual dinner clubs and book studies you won’t want to miss. Circles launch the week of October 2nd and registration is open now at this link: https://midcurrent.churchcenter.com/groups/fall-2022-mc-circles

Join us in circling up this Fall- you might just find yourself in the sort of authentic and fulfilling relationships that we were all designed to have!

By the way, in case you missed the message on Sunday about the importance of having providential relationships in our lives, I highly recommend checking it out: https://midcurrentchurch.org/sermons/growing-pains-wk-2/

We’ll see you Sunday at 9:00 or 10:30 am. Have a great week!

Hailley Leverty
Midcurrent Church Ministry Assistant

I know you’re probably asking yourself, “Grand Opening??? Hasn’t the new building been open for the last month?” And you’d be right, it has been. But this Sunday will be special. Here’s why:

• We have all the kinks worked out in our new home.
• We now have a second service which will create more room, more comfort, and more options for every guest we expect to welcome through our new front doors
• We are kicking off for the fall and for a new year of ministry at Midcurrent

And so, we’re throwing a party! In addition to a powerful worship experience, we’ve got photo ops, build-your-own popcorn mixes, and face painting (for all kids 99 and younger)! And we’re selling new Midcurrent swag. Friends, I truly believe God is on the move at Midcurrent, and I hope you are planning to be a part of it all this Sunday.

I also hope you’d be in prayer this week for anyone in your life who you think might appreciate an invitation to come to church with you. Maybe it’s a parent or a sibling, or maybe it’s a neighbor, co-worker, or classmate. Either way, we’d be thrilled to welcome them. And now more than ever, I think we can safely say that we’ll have a seat saved for them…and for you too.

Either way, text your friends and family now to decide which service you’ll be attending, and we’ll see you soon!
9:00am and 10:30am // 200 First Street // YouTube.com/midcurrentchurch

I for one am thrilled about the next step and next season in our life as a church. But I recognize some of you may have questions or concerns. So today, I wanted to take time to share a few of the common questions and concerns we hear… as well as my responses to them.

1. “We prefer a smaller church community.” This is something we hear a lot, and I totally get it. No one likes to feel unseen and unknown. But, as Jesus followers, this is a tension we will have to learn how to manage for the sake of the mission God has called us to. Because, while we don’t have a size goal at Midcurrent, we do believe that as long as as we have friends and neighbors and co-workers who don’t know Jesus, we are not big enough. And I for one don’t want to stand out front and turn people away who are attempting to turn toward Jesus.  And truthfully friends, Sunday mornings are not meant for community anyway–that’s what serving on a team and MC Circles are designed for. Sunday mornings at Midcurrent (and any church really) are meant for corporate worship, teaching, empowering, and equipping us to be the people God designed us to be at home, in our neighborhoods, and in our places of work and influence everyday.
2. “Do we have enough volunteers for two services?” The truth is, our Sunday morning ministry teams could use more volunteers to staff even the one service we currently have. (**Shameless plug alert** We’d be thrilled to have you click here and join a team today). And so yes, two services will require more volunteers. But here’s the great news. Many volunteers have indicated that they would serve more often if they didn’t have to miss out on the worship service. So now our volunteers (especially MC Kids volunteers) don’t have to choose between serving and worshipping in their church. Two services allows everyone the opportunity to fully serve during one service and to fully worship in the other. And both are vital to our life as Jesus followers in the local church!
3. “It seems like we’ve had plenty of open seats, why do we need a second service?” This is a super common question. There are two easy answers. For starters, summer attendance always takes a little dip. And our projections based on our recent spring attendance suggest that we very well may be welcoming more people through our doors this fall than ever before. And second, research shows that if a church is only even 80% full, a new family or a visiting guest will be lead to believe there is no space for them. Have I mentioned how much I don’t like turning people away who are turning to Jesus?!?!   So, will we have some empty seats this fall?? Sure we will. But every empty seat will send a message to our community that there is a space for them at Midcurrent Church and a God who is waiting to meet them.

God is truly doing a new thing among us–not just on Sunday morning, but throughout our whole church. I really do feel it, and I really do hope you’ll be a part of it.

See you Sunday for another week in our series, Are We There Yet?

10:30am // 200 First Street // YouTube.com/MidcurrentChurch

This Sunday will be our FIRST service at 200 First Street in Hudson and what we are calling a “Sneak Peek” of this incredible space. We’re not calling it a sneak peek because we’re not ready for you…we are! We’re calling it a sneak peek because we will be continuing to complete a few exciting final touches over the next month in preparation for our Grand Opening and Fall Kick-off on September 11th.

But this Sunday, July 31st, is still going to be worth celebrating. And to tell you the truth, we started wondering if we should have added a second service a little sooner than we thought. And while that day is very near, we decided to roll the dice and kick things off all together with our usual worship experience at 10:30am.

If you call Midcurrent home, you can help us to be the best host possible by ensuring that our guests have a good seat…or just any seat at all. There will be plenty of overflow space in the lobby and even some high top tables and “standing room” available in the back if need be.

And if you’re curious about parking, this parking map will tell you everything you need to know!! Leaving the spaces nearest to our entrance is one other hospitable way for us to welcome all those who will be visiting Midcurrent for the very first time.

It’s been a long time coming, and now it’s finally here, and I absolutely cannot wait to see how God will show up! It all starts when we show up…so I hope to see you then!

10:30am // 200 First Street // YouTube.com/MidcurrentChurch 

Sten

P.S. There’s still a number of chairs available for you to purchase as a way to sponsor the seat where someone might meet Jesus for the first time, ever. You can do so by clicking this link here. 

This past Sunday was a bittersweet moment as we held our very last service at Camp St Croix–the very first place we ever called home. It was a day full of emotions, logistics, and details, and I’m not quite sure any of it has really sunk in for me yet. I’m sure it will all hit sometime soon.

The truth is, being a mobile church for five years was certainly not ideal.  But what has been amazing to witness with our very own eyes is that God is not limited by less-than-ideal circumstances.  In the past five years:

• We saw a church grow from 30 people in a living room to hundreds of people in one large room (and one small basement) at Camp St. Croix.
• We threw New Years parties and block parties for kids in the community.
• We had the privilege to be the host for people who walked through the doors of a church for the first time ever or the first time in a long time.
• We celebrated people who overcame addiction, rebuilt their marriage, and sensed God’s new call on their life.
• We saw baptisms and witnessed people, young and old, make a pubic declaration of their new association with Jesus.
• We dedicated more kids than I can count, and we stood beside family after family in their desire to raise their kids to know and follow Jesus.
• We stood beside people who said YES to Jesus for the first time.

And in the words of the very last song we sang at Camp St. Croix:
“Our God isn’t finished yet. If He did it before, He can do it again.” 

Midcurrent, I truly believe God will do it again and again and again and again in our new home at 200 First Street in downtown Hudson. And we can’t wait for our first service there on July 31st.

Until then, you can help us prepare for the next chapter in our life as a church by doing two things:

1. Purchase a chair for our new building. It could be the seat where someone meets Jesus for the first time. You can buy one by clicking this link here. 
2. Register for the MC Work Weekend this Saturday and Sunday. We will NOT be holding services this weekend. Instead, we’ll be assembling teams of people to put all the finishing touches on the building. From unboxing supplies, assembling furniture, clearing trash, hanging TV’s, and so much more, there is place for you to help us prepare our new home. You can register for a shift here. 

The best is yet to come gang! And I am incredibly grateful to be on this journey with all of you!

If I had to guess, I’d say most of you are asking the very same question right now.

When do we move into the new building? 

Am I right? Is this not the ONE thing you really want to know?

Well, I am excited to rollout for you the timeline we anticipate for the next couple months. There’s a few moving parts still (fire alarm inspection, city inspection, etc.), so we do have to stay flexible, but here’s the plan as it sits right now:

• July 3: Church online only
• July 10: Week 6 of “Need to Know” onsite and online as usual
• July 17: FINAL SERVICE at Camp St. Croix and a CELEBRATION of all that God has done there in 5 years.
• July 23/24:  NO SERVICE. Work Weekend in the new building–keep an eye out for info on how/when/where we’ll need your help!
• July 31:  FIRST SERVICE in the new building and the start of a month-long “sneak peek” in our new home at 200 First St in downtown Hudson.
• September 11: Grand Opening and Fall Kick Off

If something changes, we’ll make sure to let you know as soon as possible. But for now, save these dates and do not miss a “first” or a “last” or anything in between!

We’ll see you this Saturday for the Hudson Booster Days Parade, and then again online on Sunday.

10:30am // YouTube.com/midcurrentchurch.

Don’t forget to host a watch party, post a pic, and tag @midcurrentchurch for a chance to win some MC swag!

Have a fun and safe 4th of July weekend!

P.S. Make sure to checkout midcurrent.churchcenter.com for your chance to purchase an auditorium chair in honor of every member of your family and perhaps every member of the family you’ve been wanting to invite to Midcurrent. Every chair is an opportunity for real people and a real God to meet!

It’s not every day that a 5-year church plant gets to call a permanent space “home,” and yet, that is exactly what we will be able to do before the end of the Summer! I can hardly wait to see the front doors of Midcurrent swing open, not only to the beautiful St. Croix River just across the street, but to all of the opportunities that they will create for us to reach and get even more connected with this awesome community.

After having received a few additional sponsorships in the mail this week, we are so unbelievably happy to announce that we have surpassed our build out fundraising goal! While that doesn’t mean that we have crossed the finish line completely, we can celebrate the fact that we did complete phase 1 of the race. Future contributions to Midcurrent and Raise ‘Em Up will only continue to strengthen our mission of creating spaces where real people and a real God can meet. Thank you so much for linking arms with us in this process!

Speaking of creating spaces, there will be many opportunities in the weeks to come for you to get involved in ensuring that our new space is the best space that it can be…so be sure to watch for more communication on that.

Did you know that we only have a handful of services left at the place we’ve called home from the very beginning? We’ll see you at one of them this Sunday for week 4 of our message series, Need to Know.

10:30am // Camp St. Croix // YouTube.com/MidcurrentChurch

And amidst all of the anticipation, I usually get asked one question most often: when do we move in?!  That’s a great question. At this time, we anticipate gaining occupancy to the building on August 1 and holding our first service as quickly as we can transfer all of the gear from our trailer into our new home. It will be here before we know it!

The other crucial question, one that I’m asked far less frequently, is this: have we raised all the money?  It’s fun to be able to share that we have had just about $580,000 pledged to the building. Our goal all along has been $600,000. And as long as each of us are able to see our three year commitments through, this means that we are so stinking close to the finish line!

Any gift you have been considering giving to our Raise ‘Em Up campaign (whether it’s a first time gift or an increase to a gift you have already made) could literally be the one that pushes us over the finish line. Or it might be the gift that helps us blow way past the finish line to ensure that we incur as little debt as possible or to help furnish the new building with all that we need to create the most welcoming and hospitable environment in the St. Croix Valley.

If you have questions about our new building, why we’re moving, or what this whole project is all about, make sure you check out midcurrentchurch.org/raiseemup. You’ll find a letter from me, pictures, building designs, video testimonials, as well as all the messages from the message series we used to launch this campaign.

And if you are looking for a way to contribute to the campaign, you can do so at midcurrent.churchcenter.com/giving.

There is not a more exciting time, or a more important time, to be linking arms with Midcurrent as, together, we join God in God’s mission in the church and in the world. I’m grateful to be on this mission with all of you!

Hope to see you Sunday. I’ll back in the saddle with another week in our series, Jesus Never Said That.

It finally feels like summer is in the air! I don’t know about you but I can hardly wait for everything that comes along with that – walks outside, swimming, ice cream and barefoot kids running around. There’s something about summer that is magical for every age, but especially for kids. One of my all-time favorite things about Midcurrent is the percentage of us that are the next generation. I get really excited about the number of littles who show up to MC Kids on Sundays and the crowds of teenagers who attend MC Youth on Wednesdays.

Earlier this week, I took a walk through the construction site and future home of Midcurrent and was inspired to see that the sheetrock is going up…and more specifically, that the hallway leading to the kids classrooms is almost complete – the hallway that will soon be filled with future leaders who aren’t just running to a classroom on Sundays – but a life spent living for Jesus. It’s all just more reason to get excited about our new space!

Speaking of the next generation that we have been tasked with leading, most of the time, necessities like clean drinking water are something we take for granted. But that isn’t a guarantee for every child in the world…On Saturday, May 21st, we want to do something about it and we’d like YOU to be a part of it. We’ll be hosting a Global 6K for World Vision, downtown Hudson. Why 6K? Six kilometers, or 3.7 miles, is the average distance children in developing countries walk each day to get to water. Every registration for this family-friendly walk/run will provide clean water for a child for a life time!! Upon registering, you will receive a runner bib that has a picture of your child on it – every step we take is one they won’t have to!

Registration is open now on our homepage and we would love for you to join us: www.MidcurrentChurch.org. PS – I’m told that there are a few fun extras for anyone participating in the Kids Run that day that might include things like silly string, bubbles & music…!

We look forward to seeing you this Sunday at 10:30 am as we continue with the current message series, Jesus Never Said That. We’ll save you a seat!

Hailley Leverty
Ministry Assistant | Midcurrent Church

On one hand, we are absolutely thrilled about the opportunity we have to welcome so many people through our doors. We want to reach more people for Jesus and that is exactly what is happening every single week. On the other hand, we recognize that it can be harder to find a seat at times, or a place to have a conversation, or even to read the words on the screen from the back.

You may be wondering if we’re thinking of adding another service time just like we did back in the fall of 2019. That’s not a bad thought. And we’ve considered it.  And we are actually seeing greater attendance now than when we added a second service then. 

But there a few factors we are paying attention to at the same time. Summer is just around the corner and we anticipate an increase in online viewers as summer schedules hit. And we are just a few months away from moving into our new facility which will occupy a great deal of our time, attention, and energy.

The result is this: for the rest of our time at Camp St. Croix, we’ll continue to hold one service which we anticipate will be just as full and exciting as we have been experiencing lately. And we want you to know that we are ready for it all! So our invitation to you is to embrace it all. Embrace this first place we ever called home. Embrace the crowd. Embrace buzz in the air. Embrace the buzz in MC Kids. Keep joining in on what God is doing at Midcurrent. And keep inviting others to be a part of it as well.

I think the next few months at Camp St. Croix can and will create some real momentum as we prepare for our next home downtown. So I am truly hoping you will be a part of the momentum we begin to create.

You can start this Sunday! We are excited for Mother’s Day at Midcurrent and have a few special ways to celebrate moms and learn more about God all at the same time.

It’s all goes down at 10:30am onsite and online. Hope to see you then.

Camp St. Croix // YouTube.com/MidcurrentChurch

Midcurrent was alive this past Sunday! Could you feel it?  Not only did we celebrate that Jesus was alive, but we also witnessed a powerful video story of the new life in Christ that is being born in the lives of people right here in our own community and in our own church. And we got to celebrate all of it with more people than ever before. Any more people and it would have quickly turned into a B.Y.O.C experience–Bring Your Own Chair. I’m glad it didn’t turn into that…but it was close!

All jokes aside, it was a real privilege to be a part of all that God did at Midcurrent on Easter, and I truly hope you sensed God moving in your life in powerful and maybe even brand new ways.

If you couldn’t be with us, or want to share some bit of your Easter experience with friends and family in your life, you can catch the entire worship experience at midcurrentchurch.org/messages.

Before I sign off, I wanted to send one final note about MC Partnership and the opportunity you have to be a charter partner this Sunday. Registration will close on Friday night at midnight, so if you have been planning on in it, don’t wait. And let me just say this initial opportunity for charter partnership might not be for everyone. It’s not just for people who say, “we think Midcurrent is pretty cool.” It’s not something to sign up for out of FOMO. This step, right now, is for people who are confident in their commitment to Midcurrent as well as our mission, vision, values, and beliefs as a church.  If that is you, this is your last chance to register at midcurrentchurch.org/mcpartnership. And if this is not you yet, you should know that not yet doesn’t mean not ever. The exciting news is that, from this point on into the future, a pathway to partnership will be open to those who ready to take this significant step of faith.

Thanks everyone! It’s a privilege to be on this journey with each of you. Hope to see you Sunday for the start of a brand new message series, Jesus Never Said That.

10:30am only // Camp St. Croix // YouTube.com/midcurrentchurch

With all of the growth we’ve experienced over the last few months, and in anticipation of all the guests we expect to walk through our doors this weekend, we are excited to host two identical worship experiences this Easter Sunday at 9:00am and 10:30am.

We think this will help create the most hospitable welcome for each of our guests. And if you call Midcurrent home, there are a few ways you can help us to be the best host possible.

1. Park in the back and sit in the front. Typically, most first time visitors end up having to park way too far away and sit way too close to the front. Neither of which is ideal on your first visit to a church. This should help…so will scooting into the middle of each row so we can fill as many empty chairs possible!
2. Pre-check your kids into MC Kids on the drive over. How? Great question! Download the Church Center app, pair it to Midcurrent, and then on the drive over, hit the MC Kids tab to begin the pre-check process. You’ll get a QR to scan at the MC Kids check-in desk, and your tags will immediately begin printing. This will make your check-in process faster and keep lines shorter for any of our first time guests.
3. Invite your friends and neighbors. Easter is good news for all of us, but it is especially good news for anyone who has not yet opened their heart to Jesus or experienced a clear and compelling presentation of God’s incredible love for them. Easter is our chance to send this message to as many people as possible.

And perhaps what I’d love to have you do most of all is this: pray. Would you take just 20 seconds, right now, to pray that God would work in powerful ways on Easter, and that many people would say YES to the life that Jesus has invited us, and made possible for us, to live.

It’s gonna be an exciting morning, and also our last Easter in the very first place we called home. It won’t be the same with out you!  And with two identical worship experiences, it’s all the easier for us to promise you:

We’ll save you a seat!

The Saturday between Jesus’ crucifixion and his resurrection was relatively uneventful.
As Sten described it:
The day without a name.
A day of silent waiting.
The day between trial and testimony.
Between pain and purpose.

Their beloved leader was just wrongfully killed. Because it was also the Sabbath, they set down their work, by law, and rested. Probably in sorrow and confusion.

Yep. The King was about to rise again, but his disciples didn’t yet know the depth of God’s plan, so they didn’t assume there would be anything left to celebrate.
Sound familiar?
Before they learned God had a plan, they sat idle in sorrow and confusion.

Mic. drop.
To me, this was a huge Ah-Ha moment because it sounds VERY familiar.
I could detail many parts of my life that felt idle, hopeless, and confused. And the really tough thing about this was, those parts were long. Only in hindsight, could I tell you how long it was before I found some light again because at the time, it felt like “forever.” It’s not a coincidence that in those times of my life, I too, had forgotten that God has a plan.

Instead of surrendering to the waiting with faith, I attempted lots of other solutions in these times. I bought a puppy. I went to Thailand on a girls trip. I tried crying it out. I built a little circle of other somewhat desperate, codependent friends that would never turn down happy hour. I packed a bag to “visit my parents” for multiple days because I knew that home offered a different kind of comfort. I scrolled Facebook to witness other people’s joy. I painted my living room pink.

You get the idea.
Now, none of these activities are inherently bad things to do and most were awesome! But in constant rotation, they were also my earth-creature version of creating peace and hope. And you guessed it, this kind of peace and hope didn’t last very long. Perhaps it was fruitful, but I wasn’t sustained.

In the waiting, will you lean solely on your own understanding for resolution, or will you allow it to pull you deeper into surrender? Will you spend it scrolling or praying? Changing the wall color or changing your heart?

Listen to Pastor Sten’s message from Week 2 of our series, Weekend Update: Three Days That Changed The World here:

If you have been around for the past month or so, you have experienced all the fullness, energy, and excitement of our Sunday morning worship experiences. The whole MC staff keeps saying the same thing, “It has been so fun!”

It’s true. It really has been so much fun. And all the momentum makes me even more excited for Easter at Midcurrent! In anticipation for all those who we believe will walk through our doors, we are excited to host TWO identical services on Easter, April 17th, at 9:00am and 10:30am. 

You can help us to prepare for Easter in two ways:

1. Begin praying about who you will invite to join you. I can promise you it’s going to be a perfect day to invite a friend or neighbor or co-worker.
2. Begin praying about how you could get involved on Easter by serving on one of our teams and linking arms with us to roll out the red carpet for our entire community. Our step up/tear down team and First Impressions team, in particular, would be so glad to partner with you that morning. If you think you’d like to join TEAM MIDCURRENT on Easter–just hit “reply” to this email and let me know!

And if it’s been a while since you’ve been able to join us at Midcurrent, and you think Easter might be the day you make your grand reappearance, don’t wait!! We’d love to have you jump back into the mix this Sunday for the second week in our current series Weekend Update. We’re pulling back the curtain on the three days of that first Easter weekend–three days that really did change the world. The significance of these days very well might change you!

We’ll save you a seat.

I’m writing to you today regarding a significant milestone in our life as a church. This June, Midcurrent will be officially welcomed as a full standing, member congregation of the Evangelical Covenant Church!

So then, you might ask, what exactly have we been for the last four years?? Good question! I promise you, we have been a legit church and a legal non-profit registered in the state of Wisconsin. But in terms of what is referred to as “church governance” (how we are structured and operate as an organization), we have operated under the umbrella of the denomination of which we are affiliated and the structures it provides for new church plants like ours. However, as of this summer, that won’t be the case anymore!

Practically speaking, not a whole lot will change. But, we will soon operate with three new, behind-the-scenes, components to our church.

1. A constitution and set of bylaws. Essentially, these documents will be our guide in terms of how we operate and conduct business as a church.
2. An elected board of leaders. Leadership of the church will no longer fall solely on my shoulders, but rather on the collective shoulders of a leadership team empowered to help guide Midcurrent in all that God has called us to.
3. Church membership. Annual budgets, certain hires, and most major ministry decisions will now be approved by a group of committed members of the church–members who also commit to faithfully support the ministry, mission, and priorities of the church as well.

The last item on that list is what I want to write to you about today. In the years to come, there will be a process outlined by which we welcome new members to the church. However, at this time in our history, there are no current board members or church members to oversee the process of welcoming any new members.  That means that at this time, and this time only, we have the opportunity to “grandfather in,” so to speak, those of you who are committed to Midcurrent and its mission, vision, and values, and are ready to raise your hand to become charter members of the church.

How do you know if this step is for you?? Another great question.

If you think you might be interested in this next step of membership–or what we will refer to as partnership–then here’s what I need you to do.  Visit this link for more detailed information on MC Partnership, and follow any instructions provided there regarding a short celebration we’ll hold on April 24. We’re shooting for at least 30 charter partners. Will you be one of them?

Partner or not, it is a true joy to be on this journey with each of you, and I look forward to all the years of ministry to come!

A few days have already passed, but I am still smiling at the thought of all we celebrated on Sunday. We had the opportunity to dedicate 15 kids to Lord! That’s 15 kids we dedicated to God’s care and to God’s service in the world. And that’s a total of 12 families that stepped forward to indicate their intention to raise their kids to know and follow Jesus. That is so worth celebrating! And to me, it’s a small glimpse of the reality that our church, our community, and our world is going to be in good hands with so many young families who desire to honor God with their lives.

We also welcomed through our doors more people at one service than we ever have before in the history of Midcurrent! That absolutely blows my mind. But it’s not attendance records that gets me excited. What really gets me excited is the the fact that more people–real, everyday people–and a real God had a chance to meet in powerful ways. If you were with us onsite or online, I hope you felt God near to you and maybe even speaking to you in real ways.

If you didn’t have a chance to be with us on Sunday or even if it’s been a while since you’ve been to Midcurrent–or any church for that matter– I want you to know that our doors are always open to you, and we’ll always have a seat saved for you. Consider this as my invitation to you! This is a really exciting time to be a part of all that God is doing at Midcurrent.

• We’ll be moving very soon into a home of our very own
• Sundays are continually full of life, people, and excitement for how God is at work
• MC Kids is truly becoming the place to be for kids on Sunday morning
• 14 teenagers will be away this weekend for our first ever MC Youth winter retreat
• Roughly 75 people are currently connected in a small group or one of our various MC Circles

For all of it, and so much more, I give thanks to God for all that He is doing. And I give thanks for all of you and the ways you are responding to God’s movement in your life, in your family, and in our church.

I would love to see you this Sunday for week 5 of our series Seizing Your Divine Moment. If you’ve ever prayed for a “sign” from God, you’ll want to make sure you’re there as we’ll discover what kinds of signs and directions God really does give to us.

10:30am // Camp St. Croix // YouTube.com/MidcurrentChurch

Photo Credit: Jenny Loew Photography

I almost have to pinch myself whenever I say this out loud, but I could not be more thrilled to announce that construction has officially begun on our new home downtown!  It’s not the most glamorous of work, yet–mostly demolition, clean up, and project preparation. And we won’t have a firm timeline in place until the building owners line up a few last minutes details….but, IT IS ON! And that is so huge and so timely.

These last few weeks at church have been a huge reminder about why we started pursuing a new home in the first place. So far in January and February, we’ve seen between 50% and 75% growth in attendance from week to week. That’s unreal!! Open seats are fewer and farther between upstairs, and MC Kids is busting with excitement and activity. Our new home can’t come soon enough. The potential growth that God has in store for Midcurrent simply requires more space–more space to accommodate growth and more space to send the message to our visitors that there is room for them at Midcurrent.

But just because the project has begun, it’s doesn’t mean we can put the Raise ‘Em Up campaign behind us. We still have some money to raise to put the finishing touches on the project. And going forward, we still need to see, roughly speaking, at least 50 new or increased monthly commitments of about $150 to the general fund and weekly operation of all the work God has called us to.

Contributions can be sent to Midcurrent Church at 55 Robin Lane, Hudson, WI 54016 (with “Raise ‘Em Up” or “General Fund” in the memo line) or set up online at midcurrent.churchcenter.com/giving.

That’s not the only exciting thing happening right now. We are also at the half way point of a six-week message series called Seizing Your Divine Moment! We are spending these six weeks discussing what it is we can do in order to seize the moment and become the people God has called us to be.

If you feel like God is possibly tapping you on the shoulder with some big new assignment, you won’t want to miss anymore of this series. I believe you’ll be inspired and encouraged to seize your divine moment.

We’ll also be dedicating FOURTEEN kids to God on Sunday on what is sure to be a special day at Midcurrent.

See you then!

10:30am // Camp St. Croix // YouTube.com/MidcurrentChurch

We’ll save you a seat–but maybe show up a little early just to be sure

Recently at Midcurrent, we’ve been talking about “Seizing Your Divine Moment”. 

The 6 weeks of this series are helping me understand more deeply about the times I have asked for God’s guidance in a decision. Often, it’s when I’ve felt weary and unsure of where to go next, finding myself trying to surrender and get out of the way so I can see what God is trying to show me. Other times, an opportunity feels “too easy” and “too good to be true,” but that’s when I can feel him working on the plan he always had – and I can have confidence in choosing a new adventure. 

So far, in the first 3 of 6 weeks in this series, we’ve learned that seizing divine moments will require some things on our part: 

• initiative and an expression of wanting a solution
• acknowledgement of the uncertainty that is inherent, but has the ability to boost our faith
• embracing our ability to influence change instead of using other kinds of authority

In Saul’s battle against the Philistines, Jonathan, son of Saul, takes initiative to approach the enemy whether others join him or not. With belief in Jonathan and faith in God, his armor-bearer followed loyally. Now, that’s influence! Can you imagine following just one guy into battle?

To prompt action in others, we can use our authority if/when we have it, but the ability to influence people reaches their heart and triggers their own commitment to the cause. 

How can we be INfluential? A couple suggestions:

• Live IN the word and in prayer, as this is how we find our worth and identity in God.
• INvest in the things we care about; giving our time, resources and attention to them in the present with faith that this creates the progress we’re seeking into the future.
• INvite others to join you. People will notice what you believe in and invest in by living in your principles, but the power of invitation creates the next ripple of the waves. Offer others the opportunity to join you in faith. 

“Do you want to turn heads with authority, or win hearts with influence?” – Hailley Leverty

More on this topic by Alyssa: http://womenofflexo.org/blog/leadership-as-a-characteristic-not-a-credential/ 

With each passing day in 2022, we are one day closer to a potential start date for construction on our new building downtown. As a result, let me give you a few updates on where things stand. 

Fundraising Goal
As we unveiled this exciting new project in the fall of 2021, we estimated an initial fundraising goal of over $500,000. In the weeks and months that followed, we worked hard to select the right general contractor (Leading Edge and our very own Lukas Rivard, if you haven’t heard!!) and were then provided a more accurate bid of just about $600,000 which we then set as our new fundraising goal. No one likes to see a price tag go up, but I do not believe God is deterred by a few extra bucks…and we shouldn’t be either. 

Current Progress
As of today, there have been 72 unique donors (59 from within the Midcurrent community) who have pledged $520,000 to the construction of our new home.  Midcurrent, that is so worth celebrating! And yet if I’m honest, we’re not where we hoped we would be.  In 2021, we had a total of 132 unique donors contribute to God’s work at Midcurrent which means there is still a great opportunity for a HIGHER percentage of those of us that call Midcurrent “home” to participate in this campaign and push us over the finish line. If you have yet to contribute to the future home God is leading us toward, or are feeling compelled to give above and beyond what you already have, you can do so quickly and easily by clicking this link, and selecting the “Raise ‘Em Up”  fund from the drop down menu.  I cannot wait to see how God will use this new tool of ours to reach many more people for Jesus. The best is yet to come gang! 

Next Steps
It is likely that we will begin construction sometime between February 1 and March 1. Whenever that day comes, we will make sure to let you know the exact moment we anticipate the first nail being pounded.

Thanks! 

Midcurrent, sometimes it’s the faith of our friends–the people we invite and allow into our lives–that determines the fulness of our future. We all need people in our lives who are going to carry us when we can’t stand on our own. 

It’s because of this that we have launched a new season of  what we are now calling MC Circles!  We believe life is better in circles throughout the week than it is in rows on Sundays. Everyone needs a circle and so the questions is, who is in yours? Registration for Spring Circles is now open on the Groups tab of the Church center app or by visiting:

https://midcurrent.churchcenter.com/groups/spring-2022-mc-circles.

Choose from groups meeting monthly or weekly…kicking off in February. 

We are absolutely better together. So there’s just one thing left to do: let’s circle up! 

The week after Christmas is a weird one. It’s hard to remember what day it is, and it can be hard to get back into the groove. On top of that, many people experience what is referred to as the post-Christmas blues. All the excitement and activity is over, and oftentimes a feeling of sadness sets in. And while all of that can be very real, I am still smiling about the most special and memorable Christmas we had at Midcurrent.

On what was the last Christmas we will spend in the first place we called home, we welcomed more people through our doors than ever before. That’s almost 350 men, women, and children who heard that Jesus came into the world the way He did to send the whole world a message. That message is this:

There is no place He hasn’t been.
There is no situation He can’t transform.
There is no person He doesn’t love.

So let me say thanks to each and every one of you who prayed, served, invited, tuned in, and showed up for Christmas Eve Eve at Midcurrent. It was such a joy to celebrate, together, the good news of Emmanuel–God is with us.

I look forward to being with all of you this coming Sunday, onsite or online, for Week 1 in a brand new message series, First and Ten. We’ll kickoff 2022 by exploring a game changing question Jesus asked over 2000 years ago. Our answer to that question very well may determine the year that lies ahead for us.

Hope to see you then.

10:30am // Camp St. Croix // YouTube.com/MidcurrentChurch

Photo Credit: Indira Van Handel Photography

That’s why I love Christmas Eve Eve at Midcurrent. We get a chance to stop, pause, take a breath, and all come together to celebrate the greatest gift that we could have ever been given. I can’t wait to celebrate with you. And let me tell you, we have some memorable moments all lined up for the evening. You will not want to miss it!  And I hope you are already thinking about who you will invite to join you for our last Christmas in the very first place we called home.

I’ll be honest, I have some big goals for this Christmas at Midcurrent.  I want more people to walk through our doors than ever before. You can help make it a Christmas to remember for the friends, family, neighbors and co-workers in your life. Send a text or make a phone call, or save the Eve Eve invite that is posted on Facebook to send on to whoever it is you’d like to join you next week.

Thursday, December 23 // 4pm and 6pm
Camp St. Croix // YouTube.com/MidcurrentChurch

Can’t wait!

I just walked out of a meeting about the current state of our next home and our Raise ‘Em Up building campaign. And as the saying goes, there’s some good news and some bad news. I’ll start with the good news.

We have selected a general contractor!! Typically, I wouldn’t expect all of you to get too excited about the selection of a general contractor. But our general contractor is someone I think you should be very excited about…because he is one of our very own. I could not be more pleased to let you know that Lukas Rivard, and his company Leading Edge, will be leading the project for us! Lukas and his partners have done some exceptional work right here in our own community, and I could not be more thrilled to have them on the job for us.

Now here’s the other news. It’s not necessarily bad news. It’s just not the good news. So, whatever kind of news it is, here’s what’s up. With Leading Edge in place, we are inching closer and closer to a commitment date–when the first nail is pounded and there is no going back. At the same time, our fundraising has plateaued about $150,000 short of our goal. If our next home is going to be a reality for us in 2022, we need to close that gap as quickly as we can.

So I have two requests:

1. If you have not yet contributed to our Raise ‘Em Up campaign, I want to invite you to consider doing so before the year is up. There could not be a better time to contribute as your gift could be the gift that pushes us across the finish line and gives Leading Edge the official “green light” to start raising up those walls.
2. If you have already contributed to the project, I want to humbly ask that you take another look. Ask God if He is maybe leading you to take a leap of faith by adding to your contribution. Erica and I did this a few weeks into the campaign. At the outset, we had both decided on a number that already felt like a big sacrifice for our family. We even drained a growing vacation fund we had stashed away for the last 10 years. And yet, a few weeks into the project, we looked at each other and almost simultaneously admitted that we knew God was asking us to give even more. So we doubled the initial contribution we were already planning on. And let me tell you, I have never been more excited or more content to give away so much money because I could not be more confident of what God wants to do in Midcurrent’s new home. The best is yet to come, friends! I’d be so deeply grateful to have you in on it all.

Ok…one more request. Come hang out with us this Sunday for Week 2 in our series, Unexpected. You might just learn about the gift God wants to offer you this Christmas.

10:30am // Camp St. Croix // YouTube.com/MidcurrentChurch

And in partnership with Operation HELP, we are excited to bring a special little slice of Christmas to families in our own communities who are in need of a little extra assistance this time of year. If you grabbed a tag either of the last two Sundays, you’ve only got a few more days to do your Christmas shopping because this Sunday, December 5th, we are collecting all the gifts back at Midcurrent–unwrapped and with the original tag you picked off the tree.

Thank you so much for your generosity. You all are always so quick to respond to needs in the community and in the world. I love leading a church full of people with hearts like yours!

Not only are we collecting those gifts this Sunday, but we are also beginning a brand new message series called Unexpected! We’ve all heard it before, “big things come in small packages.” While this very well may be true, when we examine the stories and details surrounding the birth of Jesus, we’ll discover that some of God’s greatest gifts to us are delivered in the most unexpected ways.

If you have ever experienced an interruption, slowdown, setback, or detour somewhere in your life, I hope you’ll join us for Week 1 in this new series. Those detours could very well be a gift from God to you. Can’t wait to tell you more.

10:30am // Camp St. Croix // YouTube.com/MidcurrentChurch

About a month ago at the MC Women’s Breathe Retreat, I gave thanks for this same thing, but I called it something different at that time; It went like this: “I am thankful for conversations in my mind and heart, that I can now attest are between God and I.”

I have often wondered what other people’s thoughts look or sound like, the ones that the rest of us can’t hear or see. It’s simply reality, but also perplexing, that we’ll never completely understand how someone else dissects, decides, or untangles things in their mind. I like this newfound name for that experience, “inner life.”

This week at Midcurrent, Sten finished up the 5-week series called Dan the Man, which has focused on the topic of integrity. We’ve been learning how Daniel faced major conflict in his life and the choices he made in the name of his God and his beliefs. The writings in this book have given us a glimpse into Daniel’s inner life.

Are your inner thoughts conversational in nature?
Do your questions achieve some answers?
Do you have more words or more visuals?
Do you give God some room in there?

Perhaps your focus can get scattered, like mine does (frustratingly so!). When we’re tired, overwhelmed, stressed-out or faced with fear and conflict, we may not have the gumption to make the right choice all of the time. Our patience wears thin and our tolerance runs out. So how do we maintain our integrity in these circumstances? Easier said than done!

[The first thing I picture is my sweet and sour 2-year-old, pushing Mommy right to the very edge before saying, “I sorry Mommy, I lub you” with his ‘nice touches’ brush of the hand on my leg. Aghh!! I’ll never regret maintaining my integrity in parenting when that little apology eventually follows.]

Sten told us the secret! Prepare for those inevitable, exhausted moments by practicing your
conviction and faith consistently. Practice, practice before you perform! Behaving with integrity
under pressure will come most naturally if you show up in your life prepared.

This is the opportunity:
What practices need to be added to your inner and outer life, in order to show up prepared for life’s challenges? How can you condition your own automatic reactions that will remain aligned with your beliefs?

And thankfully, Sten also reminded us that our habits don’t need to be perfect in order to be consistent and create our strengthened mindset.

As we finished up 5 weeks about ‘Dan the Man’, here’s my short reminder to take with me:

Conviction, Faith then Consistency = Integrity with Ease

Dear God, Help us to create a rich inner life and relationship with you as we contemplate the obstacles of human life. Help us understand that self-discipline is not an inconvenience, but a dedication to our striving to emulate the character of Jesus.

Read that again.
I can’t say it’s a word I’ve pondered before, but wow— what magnitude.

This Sunday, Pastor Sten helped us consider the real role of integrity in our lives, and most of all, its role
when it is inconvenient and it will certainly cost us in some way. He helped us understand that there is
an important difference between intention and integrity. Perhaps we almost always “mean well,” but
are we truly convicted and ready to sacrifice if we have to? Are we incorruptible in our faith?

This past weekend at Midcurrent, we heard more about the story of Daniel and his friends, as they
continued to face the conceited control of King Nebuchadnezzar. Quick recap: In the event where the
King erected his own 90ft golden statue and demanded everyone bow to it when the trumpets played or
be burned in the fire, Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego were convicted that they will not worship any
other figure but their God. When they refused to bow to the King, he indeed ordered his soldiers to
throw them all into the burning furnace. Upon doing so, the King acknowledged a 4 th man had joined
them and all were untouched by the flames.

There was another in the fire. You know who it was.

The catch is, we can’t always be sure our convictions will result in a miracle such as this. Shadrach,
Meshach and Abed-Nego weren’t certain either, but they trusted God so deeply, that if these flames
were their destined conclusion, they were at peace that it would be in His glory and by His guidance.
They knew that God could save them if He so chose to, but that even if He didn’t, their faith in His plan
remained steadfast. These men displayed integrity in their beliefs, no matter the obstacle. They had
resolved their loyalty long before they were tested. In this, we can see that difference between
intention and integrity is the readiness to sacrifice for our resolutions.

We know it’s pretty easy to justify our behaviors – we’re experts at it. When the risk is low, or no one
would ever know, or we had to defend ourselves to avoid pain, our peers don’t often fault us for making
choices to dip out or shy away from the hard stuff. In fact, our peers tend to enjoy the company, so we
can all feel justified in poor choices together! Strength in numbers!

But again, there’s a catch: no one but you can hold yourself accountable to acting with integrity and
unfortunately, we probably won’t have these raving fans cheering us on when we’re quietly reflecting
on our own lives in the end. Our relationship to God is our own to honor and maintain.

Ok, what kind of sacrifice are we talking?

Does it matter? (No.)
Integrity is not circumstantial.
Be it embarrassment, financial loss, isolation or giving up control, no consequence is worthy of
trading for your heart. We know what Jesus would do. We have been shown the way and now
we must live bravely in his confidence.

So, what do we do when we’re afraid?

Rejoice in His companionship through the hard times.
Seek our faith community that will support us in the image of Jesus, and remain humble to the
challenges God knows and intended to place on our path.
Thankfully, there are also musical artists that have helped us find the words:

“Another In The Fire” by Hillsong United is a great resource to help us wrestle this topic:

There’s a grace when the heart is under fire…
…And should I ever need reminding how good you’ve been to me, I’ll count the joy
come every battle, ‘cuz I know that’s where you’ll be.”
https://spoti.fi/3rbH0me

Have you made a promise you’ve been pressured to break?

Have you witnessed corruption and later wished you would’ve done something about it?

Are you prepared to make sacrifices for your beliefs when truly challenged?

Dear God, please help us to recognize what we’re here to learn and when we must contest the
circumstances. Show us how to stand firmly in your name. Amen.

Part of my job as a leader is to constantly paint a picture of the future–a picture of where God is leading. Often times that results in me speaking about what could be, but may not be yet–the people we have not yet reached, the dreams we have not yet realized, the money we have not yet raised, the walls we hav not yet built, the lives we have not yet changed and on down the line.

And while it’s important to acknowledge opportunity and the potential of all the places in which God is leading us, we also need to stop, at times, to acknowledge what already is. I think that’s what Thanksgiving is all about.

And while I may be preoccupied with the future God has planned for Midcurrent, and all that awaits us in the months and years to come, I am also incredibly grateful for the here-and-now, and all of the blessings that are so evident at Midcurrent.

So today I wanted to take a moment to highlight all that I am giving thanks for when it comes to our collective work together.

I thank God for:

• the 100+ volunteers who give of their time and talent to God’s work here every single
• an amazing, gifted, and dedicated staff who serves alongside me
• a church full of people committed to creating a space where real people and a real God meet
• a church full of people who, time and time again, respond overwhelmingly to the real needs in the community and in the world
• Camp St. Croix and the home it has been for an unbelievable fours years of ministry
• the generosity so many of you have shown–generosity that is paving the way for a new place to call home

I don’t pretend to know the “not yet” you might be consumed with. But, this week, I am giving all of us permission to take a vacation from focusing on the future. Instead, let’s be on the look out for God’s blessings that exist right in front us today.

I know I am giving thanks to God for each of you.

Hope you have a great week with family and friends.

And I hope to see you on Sunday for the last week in our series Dan the Man. We’ll talk about how it is we live with integrity for the long haul.

10:30am // Camp St. Croix // YouTube.com/MidcurrentChurch

Thanks!

By this time every year, one of the most heated debates resumes. And no, I’m not talking about Starbucks or Caribou? I’m not talking about coffee or tea (does anyone really like tea?). I’m not even talking about Vikings or Packers?

I’m talking about Christmas music and whether it is appropriate before or after Thanksgiving.

Now, I’ll be honest with you, I am firmly in the after Thanksgiving camp. I think it says that somewhere in the Bible, doesn’t it?! (Ok, I double checked, it doesn’t…darn). Well either way, and despite my post-Thanksgiving preference, I need to mention something about Christmas as I write today on November 16.

I know many of you are starting to make plans for Christmas and coordinating where you’ll be and when you’ll arrive. And I am hopeful that Midcurrent will be a part of those plans. So mark your calendars, now, for December 23rd, at 4pm & 6pm, for Christmas Eve Eve at Midcurrent! Yup, you heard me right…December 23rd…Eve Eve. This is becoming a unique, special, and meaningful way for us to celebrate Christmas together and to open our doors wide to the hundreds, maybe even thousands, of people in our community looking for a church to attend this Christmas.

And don’t just mark your calendar, make sure to let your friends and family and neighbors know that we’ll have a seat saved just for them.

We’ll save you a seat this Sunday, too. It’s Week 3 in our series Dan the Man, and we’ll discover the defining characteristic of true integrity.

10:30am // Camp St. Croix // YouTube.com/MidcurrentChurch

P.S. Thanks to the 60 families and individuals who have contributed to our building campaign so far, we have $435,000 pledged to toward raising up the walls of our new home. That’s $435,000 closer to a physical place–7 days a week–for real people and real God to meet. Thanks to all who have partnered with us so far. So much to celebrate…still work to be done. Let’s get after it!

Here’s a quick update for you on our current building campaign. We currently have just shy of $400,000 pledged to raising up the walls of our new home! That is such incredible news and we are soooooo close to reaching our goal. But, we’re not there yet.

I know there are some of you still considering if and how you would be a part of this campaign. And I recognize that some of you may still have questions too. How did we select this building? Why didn’t we look to buy instead of lease? When do we need to have all of the money? What about parking, and what about ______________?

These are all great questions. None of this is a secret. And we want to answer any question that you might have. So this Sunday, right in the middle of the service, we are going to call a quick “time-out” and answer some of the question we are asked the most. 

In the meantime, if you have any questions for us about this building project, you can email them to raiseemup@midcurrentchurch.org. 

And if you don’t come on Sunday for the Q&A session, then definitely come for week 3 of Dan The Man. We’re talking about how it is that integrity speaks and shows up into the important conversations happening around us everyday. I, for one, want to get this right in my everyday life, and I hope you do too!

I’d love to have you be there for it all. We’ll save you a seat! 

10:30am // Camp St. Croix // YouTube.com/MidcurrentChurch

This past Sunday will go down as one of those days that I rememberer for a very long time. It was a reminder of how exactly God is moving at Midcurrent.

I am so thrilled to share with you that we are over half way to our Raise ‘Em Up goal with $350,000 pledged so far to this project and to our future home! 

Some of you have contributed one-time gifts already this year. 
Some of you have committed to weekly, monthly, or annual gifts over the next three years.
Some of you have done both. 

It truly is a beautiful picture of the power of everybody!! 

I really am encouraged, and at the same time, we still have a ways to go. And there is still an opportunity for a higher percentage of us to be involved.

If you have not yet determined if and how you’ll be a part of this project, there is still time, and your generosity could be the contribution that pushes us over the finish line! We’d be glad to get you a commitment card and give you some time think and pray about how God could use you to help raise up the walls of our new home. Construction will begin as early as January, and a majority of the funds will be due then.  So every single gift matters!

And for those of you who have already submitted a commitment card, let me first express my utmost gratitude to you. Let me also share what it is that we need from you right now.  You can help us most by visiting midcurrent.churchcenter.com/giving TODAY to submit your gifts to the Raise ‘Em Up campaign or to set up the recurring annual, weekly, or monthly pledges that you indicated on your card. The sooner each of us lock in our commitments the sooner we can begin creating the physical place where we believe real people and real God will meet for many more years to come! 

Grateful to be in this together!

See you Sunday for week two in our series Dan the Man. We’ll talk about how it is we make the right decision in the heat of the moment!

10:30am // Camp St. Croix // YouTube.com/MidcurrentChurch

I am always anxious for another Sunday for all of us to be together. But I am especially anxious for this coming Sunday. I’m am hoping it will be the first tidal-wave sized surge of momentum in our Raise ‘Em Up building campaign.

Almost two weeks ago, we put a pledge card in your hand designed to help you determine the part you will play in raising up the walls that God is calling us to build. We asked that you take the following two weeks to drop them in the collection box at church or to drop them in the mail.  To date, we have received ONE contribution since October 17.

I’m not worried yet, and there’s two reasons why.

1. God has clearly lead us to this point, and I don’t believe He plans to hang us out to dry now.
2. We still have a few days left of that two week window in which we asked you to return those cards to us. 

So here’s my request to all of you. This Sunday, let’s stuff the collection box full of those blue and orange pledge cards and make a huge dent in the work that is in front of us. God is moving in our church, and I am confident that He will move in all of our hearts so that, together, we can make this dream a reality. 

I am confident because God has already been moving in the hearts of some who call Midcurrent home. Before the campaign officially launched, a small group of men and women came together to kickstart the project. As a result, we received three-year pledges of $15,000 as well as one-time gifts of $4,000, $5,000, $10,000, $20,000, and even $50,000!

If God is cultivating that kind of generosity in the hearts of a small group of men and women, I cannot wait to see the generosity that will be unleashed from a whole church full of people committed to creating the actual place for real people and a real God to meet. 

So Midcurrent, bring those pledge cards back THIS Sunday, and let’s mark Sunday, October 31, 2021 on our calendar as the day that we took one giant step forward in our effort to raise ’em up!

P.S. We are also starting a brand new message series called Dan The Man. We’ll explore the Old Testament book of Daniel to discover how it is we live lives of integrity when it matters most. Don’t miss a single week! 

This past Sunday was a big one. Not only did we celebrate turning four years old as a church, but it was also a pivotal week 3 in our series and building campaign Raise ‘Em Up.

I read a captivating few verses from chapter 3 in the story of Nehemiah. By captivating, I mean a long list people who worked on the walls of Jerusalem…each of them with a name terribly hard to pronounce. At first glance, it may appear to be a dry, boring, and insignificant chapter in the Bible. But that couldn’t be further from the truth. Chapter 3 highlighted the make-it-or-break-it competent to the success of Nehemiah’s vision…and ours as well. That special component is the power of everybody! 

We have a big vision right now to move into a home of our very own. But that vision won’t become a reality without the power of everybody. On Sunday, we made available to you a pledge card designed for you to indicate the part you will play in partnering with us to raise the funds to raise up the walls. 

We are asking you to return those pledge cards on either of the next two Sundays. Simply drop them in the collection box near the Welcome Desk or send them in the mail, by October 31, to 55 Robin Lane, Hudson, WI 54016.  If you need to access any of the campaign material, it can all be found at midcurrentchurch.org/raiseemup.

Raising a minimum of $500,000 is no small feat, but I know it is entirely possible with the power of everybody! 

One last note about this coming weekend. We are excited to send 30 women away on the annual Breathe retreat.  And we also have a dynamic worship experience dialed up for you.

1. I’ll be leading worship and can’t wait to grab my guitar again and let it rip!
2. We are welcoming my former lead pastor, Remy Diederich, to Midcurrent. Remy is the founding pastor of Cedarbrook Church in Menomonie and has so much wisdom about church planting and about young churches moving from place to place. I can’t wait for you to learn from him a little bit more about the journey we are embarking on together. 

If you are anywhere near Hudson, WI this Sunday, and are a friend of mine or Remy’s or of Midcurrent or Cedarbrook, I want to extend a special invitation to you to fill up the room for what should be a special morning together! 

As I sit down to write today, we are less than 24 hours away from the calendar flipping to October 15. What is so special about that date you may wonder? Let me tell you.

Four years ago, on October 15, 2017, we opened the doors of Midcurrent for the very first time!

I am amazed at all that has taken place in those four years.

• Midcurrent has grown
• We’ve even outgrown our home at Camp St. Croix
• Kids have been dedicated to Lord
• Many have been baptized making a public declaration of a new association with Jesus
• Youth have been encouraged and equipped to be the leaders God created them to be
• Marriages, families, and individuals have built their lives around Jesus
• The hungry have been fed
• The thirsty have been given clean water to drink
• The refugee has been clothed
• Those without a home have been given a roof over their head

The list of what God has done in and through Midcurrent Church could go on. And all of it has been possible because of a loving God and because of each and every one of you who is committed to reaching more people with the grace and good news of Jesus.

It’s all a cause for celebration and that’s exactly what we plan to do THIS Sunday. If you have ever been a part of Midcurrent, or if you have been a friend or fan of Midcurrent at any point along the way, we’d love to invite you to celebrate with us.

Not only will we be turning four, but we will also be in a momentous and pivotal week number three of our current message series and building campaign, Raise ‘Em Up.

I would be so thrilled to have you join us.

10:30am // Camp St. Croix // YouTube.com/midcurrentchurch

Pastor Sten

P.S. If you are curious to learn more about our Raise ‘Em Up campaign, you can find all the videos, pictures, and campaign resources at midcurrentchurch.org/raiseemup

So today is all about highlighting them. Here it goes! 

Brian Smith–Worship Leader: Brian was the first part-time staff member we hired when Midcurrent was only one year old. In addition to being an amazingly talented musician, Brian is also a gifted web and graphic designer. From our website, to promotional materials, to online and on-screen graphics–Brian is the master behind it all!

Hailley Leverty–Ministry Assistant: We often joke that Hailley’s title could be, I do just about everything for anyone anytime they need help. But that doesn’t quite roll off the tongue. So we opted for ministry assistant instead. Whatever her title, one thing is for sure: she is instrumental in the dreaming, the planning, the coordinating, the communication, and the execution of just about everything we do. 

Erin Buye--NEXT Director: Next what you might ask?? Next anything really!! From first-time visitor, to raving fan of Midcurrent, to fully devoted follower of Jesus, Erin has recently joined our staff to help you take whatever step is next for you! Erin is an exceptional event planner and is so gifted in helping make Midcurrent the most hospitable place ever!

Amy Thielke–MC Youth Director:  Amy is the most recent to officially join our staff and has made an immediate impact in the lives of the next generation! Here’s the one thing I keep hearing from parents, “Oh my kids love Amy!!” She has joined an amazing team of adult leaders and has helped create THE place for students to be on Wednesday nights!

Erica Carlson–Interim MC Kids Director:  If you didn’t know, Erica is my wife. And in addition to being the single greatest support and champion for all things Midcurrent from the very beginning, she has also spent the last year leading MC Kids where she has been passionately teaching our kids that God is a good God, He is in a good mood, and He is not mad at you! If you have seen her in action, you have experienced the contagious love she has for all of those kids…and for Jesus!  

And then there’s me. I lead this crazy crew and also tell a few bad jokes on Sunday mornings. And all of it is an absolute privilege.

I know this weekend is your last taste of summer, but I’d sure be glad to see you onsite or online. this Sunday. 

One thing I will miss, besides chubby feet & dimply fingers, is how straight up Mari, my-tonight-only 4-year-old, is.  We are not out of the meadow of childlikeness yet, of course, but I can see it from here.  I have teenagers, after all. (Love you guys!  XO).

When she has watched a cartoon that wasn’t her pick, she informs us with volume that she hated it.  (also, melodrama.). She snuggles when she wants to & not otherwise, she doesn’t like the black toothpaste.  She says “straight up” when she’s asking for clarity.  & when she loves you, well.  The stars have aligned for you, my friend, because her admiration is an ocean.  There is no jumble of insecurity & posturing.  She’s just a little girl who loves Gabby’s Dollhouse.

This is part of why Jesus asked us to be like little children, I think.  There is nothing false in them.  The world, us grownups, culture has not taught them that yet, says Pastor Levi Lusko. Or, we’ve tried to polish them, but they’ve refused.  Swimsuit as wardrobe.  No, thank you, to a straightened ponytail.  No green things eaten to be impressive; goldfish crackers are fine, thanks.

If only we could be so bold.

& here, sweet friends, is where the key turns.  We CAN be bold, & it is across a welcome mat that is luxury to our tired feet.  We have walked a long way propping ourselves up, posing just right, filtering our words & our photos.
Bring back nap time, honestly. We are tired. 

But we can choose otherwise.  We are big grownups, after all.  We can begin to be honest (or more honest) with ourselves & with each other.   It will be alright.  It might be amazing.

Those jeans in your closet not your size anymore?

:Totally fine.  Get rid of them. We still love you.

Summer not filled with airplanes & postcards?

:Me neither.  Stayed close.  Still love you.

Having a hard time with ____________?

:SAME.  Gosh, it’s hard.  With you; love you.

Losing my hair (& eyelashes & underarm hair, ahem) to an autoimmune disease in my 20’s has been one of the better fires in my life.  I wouldn’t (didn’t, couldn’t) have said it at the time, but here we are.  You can’t maintain the lie that you’re only beautiful if you wear mascara when you don’t have eyelashes to put it on.  Being seen is a little bit magical.

Conversely, making ourselves into something & someone we aren’t is exhausting.  We are none of us without struggle & sorrow.  Because we’re not on the other side yet.  We WILL be perfect one day, but today isn’t it, & we don’t have to pretend like we are ahead of time.  It helps no one, & it wears us out.  Our energy is better spent elsewhere.  Like Loving, for example.  We can start with ourselves.

So let’s step inside a welcoming authenticity.  It’s cozy & a little haphazard in here, & none of the walls are exactly straight.  But gosh, it’s lovely pulling off the facade & chucking it down the stairs. 

Come on in.  Your soul needs a rest.  You are Beloved exactly as is, no filters. 

Pinky promise.

For now, we can stay! That’s great news. 

But what’s not so great is that Camp St. Croix is simply not as comfortable a home for Midcurrent as it used to be. For starters, we’re growing! More people and more kids continue to walk through our doors every Sunday. On top of that, Camp St. Croix is becoming a busier place throughout the week which has made it significantly more challenging for us (especially those who arrive early in the morning to begin setting up) to duck in and out every Sunday. 

So what does all of this mean?  First of all, we’re giving thanks that we won’t be homeless and forced to move into a new home in short order. But we are also continuing to search, diligently and prayerfully, for a new place to call home–for seven days a week and not just a few hours on Sunday morning. 

We have even identified some possibilities and are taking all the necessary steps to determine if they are viable options to soon present to all of you! 

There may be a few “unknowns” at the moment. But what I can tell you is this:

This is an exciting time to be a Midcurrenthian!! (Ya, I kinda just made that term up to refer to all of us).

Would you continue to pray for our church, our future home, and the collective work we do together to create spaces for real people and a real God to meet!

Thanks!

Sten

Not even six months ago, we stepped up to the plate, took a swing, and (honestly, much to our surprise) knocked one out of the park! What exactly am I referring to?? I’m talking about MC YOUTH!!

Truthfully, COVID halted any bit of momentum from the smallest beginnings of MC YOUTH back in 2019 and 2020. Fast forward to March of this year, 2021, and we knew that now was the time to put MC YOUTH back on the map. Yes, we had to do it safely and wisely, but now was the time nonetheless. 

We quickly assembled a team of adult volunteers who committed to work together to create a regular place for teenagers on Wednesday nights.  And with only a meeting or two all together, and a long string of emails and text messages after that, this team created the most irresistible environment for students 6th-12th grade. And before we knew it, up to 30 teenagers were hanging out at MC YOUTH every Wednesday night. We were ecstatic and chomping at the bit for the opportunity to invest into these amazing young men and women. 

Yet as we looked to fall, and all of the momentum we hoped to sustain, we knew that we would need more than an ongoing string of text messages and emails to keep this party going. We knew that we needed someone to lead the charge. Someone to keep this train moving down the tracks. Well, I am happy to announce that Amy Thielke is that someone. And as of August 1st, Amy has joined our staff as the part time MC YOUTH Director. 

Amy has been attending Midcurrent for the last year and has shown unthinkable levels of enthusiasm for the ways God is at work, not only with students, but with the church at large. Amy has a knack for engaging with teenagers and a deep hunger to connect them to the heart of God. 

So here’s what I need from you Midcurrent:

1. Next time you see (or meet) Amy, give her a high five and a big ol’ welcome to TEAM MC! 

2. Send her a message at amy@midcurrentchurch.org to let her know you are interested to join her and her team investing into the future generation of world changers!  

Thanks! 

Sten

P.S. I hope to see you at the home of Mike and Indira VanHandel on Saturday night for our summer concert. Trust me when I say it will be an amazing night of music with some food and ice cream too! 5:00pm. W8721 770th Ave in River Falls. 

On Sunday, Hailley spoke about how we have to need to absolutely must apply Truth to how we are living if we want to get anywhere, dip into any of the riches of a life with Jesus.  How do you know where you need more application, she asked us?  The negative places will tell you.  Where you feel disheveled or anxious or afraid, jealous & nasty & broken down, those are where you need more of God, more application. 

But, really: why?  Between the dishes & the dog & all your job requires, who has time to think about spiritual growth?  Well.  If you had a treasure trove in your basement, you’d want to crack the door, no matter how neglected the steps down looked.  It’s the same for a Life with Jesus. 

So let’s get after it.
When the dark comes for you, this morning, as you notice the woman by the lettuce with the cute skirt, in the middle of the night after the cat wakes you up, try to separate yourself from what the dark says about you, to you. Look at the phrasing trying to step onto your Ferris wheel brain. 
Where you hear, My WORD, you have failed,
instead of swallowing it whole, hold it up to the Light & ask God what He wants to say to It. Let Him apply His Truth to It. & keep doing that, keep inspecting those riders, with every rogue thought, every impulse that feels like, Well, jealous is just who I am, Hold It Up.

& bit by charcoaly bit, Jesus will reclaim the shadowy places in our hearts until He has more & more of us.  & more & more of us tucked in with Him means more & more freedom for us.

That, my friends, is a very nice Ride.

When I look around church these days, it dawns on me that we have a really great problem on our hands. There are a lot of people I don’t recognize!! Despite the unique year we just experienced in the church, we are still seeing new people walk through our doors every Sunday!  

Maybe you are new to Midcurrent these days. Or maybe you have been around for a little while but still find yourself asking the question: So, what’s next?

Great question! Let me tell you about two next steps that might be right for you!

1. Meeting Midcurrent. If you are new or have questions about who we are and what we’re up to, Meeting Midcurrent is designed specifically for you! On August 8, right after church, we will serve you lunch, take care of your kids, and in 60 minutes or less, I will share with you all about Midcurrent and answer any questions you might have. If this is the next step you need to take, you can sign up on the Church Center App or on our registration website here. 

2. Baptism.  If you have made the decision to follow Jesus, but have never gone public with your faith, then baptism is the best next step for you to take. And we can’t wait to celebrate baptism, as a whole church, on Sunday, August 22. Whether you are standing in the water, or standing on the sidelines cheering, this will be a Sunday you do not want to miss. If you are ready to go public with your faith in Jesus–or even if you have questions about the whole thing–fill out this baptism form, and we will follow up with you ASAP! 

There’s going to be even more next-steps for you to consider this fall, but these are the two you need to know about right now! 

And while you consider both of them, let me just encourage your very next step to be through our doors this Sunday morning at 10:30am. It’s the last week in our series, Faith Hacks, and it’s gonna be a good one!

Cheering for you!

Sten

P.S. Make sure to also save the date for August 14. We’re hosting a summer concert at 5pm in River Falls. It’s a night designed for all of us (and your friends and neighbors too) to enjoy a summer evening together. Hope you can make it! ]]> 3790 sten@midcurrentchurch.org (Pastor Sten Carlson) https://midcurrentchurch.org/2021/07/21/midcurrent-midweek-7-21-21/ Wed, 21 Jul 2021 18:59:08 +0000 https://midcurrentchurch.org/?p=3774 Hey Midcurrent!

I truly hope you are enjoying these summer months. I, for one, have had a whirlwind month of July. I’ve spent the month doing three things primarily: speaking, vacationing, and praying. 

The month began with me speaking for a week (twice a day!!!) for a couple hundred people at a summer camp in Michigan.  In addition to speaking, I was the “resident pastor” for the week– there to guide and encourage those who needed it.

The very next week was a week of pure VACATION. No cooking, no cleaning, no running errands, no meetings, no emails (ok, maybe a few), no responsibilities–NOTHING! And it was glorious!

And then in the weeks after, and sprinkled everywhere in between, I’ve been praying. Praying for what?? Midcurrent. I’ve been praying for our future and specifically for some of the decisions we need to make right now. 

These summer months have, relatively quickly, brought upon us three very real possibilities.

1. Camp St. Croix might not be available to us beginning this September.  

2. We might have to consider a move into a new facility–most likely a school or a place that offers similar space.

3. Maybe we’d lease and build-out a facility to call our own for a while. To be honest, there is one in particular that has caught our attention.

There are still many questions to answer, factors to weigh, and possibilities to consider. I won’t list out all of the details, nor can I provide any information with any amount of certainty right now. 

But what I am going to ask you to do right now, no matter what you are doing, is to stop and pray.  Would you pray for our future and these important decisions we need to make? Would you pray that God would lead us to the right place to call home, and that it would be a tool for us to reach more people for Jesus here in the St. Croix Valley.  

If you could take even just 30 second to pray that prayer right now, I would be so grateful.

Thanks so much friends! So glad to be in this together with all of you!

Sten

P.S. Our good friend James Brown is in the house this Sunday for another week in our series Faith Hacks. Plus, we are pausing to celebrate communion. PLUS… it’s just really fun to be together on Sunday. Won’t be the same without you! 

“God purifies hearts.”  ~Proverbs 17:3.

I would rather He not;  let’s be honest.  I am comfortable where I am.  I don’t welcome what feels like darkness for me to be made whole-er.  I’m good with being Halfsies, but also, Jesus is coming.  We can take care of the rest of my purification then, I think. 

BUT.  I can see what needs to be purified in my kids’ lives.  CAN I GET AN AMEN.  Currently, the screaming in the pool.  & the bickering.  But also:  where self confidence has slipped.  The lies they believe about themselves.  The anxieties that crowd them in the night but also in the daylight. 

If I am looking at my children & can see how much more there is for them + how badly I want it for them, how much more our Father with us? 

We really do want God to purify us.  God’s Love comes in a million hues.  Purification is just another shade.  We can trust it won’t be beyond what He’ll help us handle. 

& won’t life be brighter, won’t WE be brighter, on the other side of the dark?

I don’t have a good relationship with the Fruits of the Spirit.  Or, I should say, I grew up with them, went to college for them, & choke on them now & again.  Sometimes, when you walk alongside a spiritual tenet for awhile, it begins to rub you the wrong way, a slight blister from old shoes.

BUT!  if I begin to disassemble them, peel them apart a little (see what I did there?  I am not apologizing.), I really do like Love.  Peace may be my very favorite thing, as a mama of 5.  & Kindness?  More than just granola bars.  I don’t think I’m overstating it to say:  The Fruits of the Spirit are the heart of who we are inside Jesus.

So, practical, then:How do you wake up in the morning?  I mean, after you’ve swum into consciousness & decimated the darkness.  Are you excited about your life, even a tiny spark?  Or, like Sten talked about on Sunday, are we a house of broken folks who live broken & not redeemed?  Because the Truth is bold:  we are brand new, every single day, & we are on a trajectory to actual Paradise.  So.  No matter what our lives have been to date, we still have everything to live for.  We are literally infused with the Spirit of God.  We need to go ahead & live like it.

In the spring at this house, we hammer taps into  maple trees.  If the  conditions are right, the effect is immediate:  sap runs, syrup’s comin’.  Just add fire.  Magic.

Same with us.  Let’s make the conditions right in our hearts so we can tap into the Spirit of God & set the world on fire.  Yah?

In case you are like me & could use some suggestions, I have a few. 

These are simple but maybe not easy.  Here we go:

1. Get off your phone.  (I am literally writing this on my phone.  Hits me between the eyes, too.  Wells of Joy & a truckload of Peace depend on this, though.  You can feel it’s true.).

2. Go outsiiiiiiiide.

3. Take in beauty.  Nature, art, hobbies, hold babies, eat beautiful food.

4. Connect to Jesus people.  Text, call, stream podcasts, listen to worship music.  Tap your lifelines.  If you don’t have any or many, ask Jesus.  He’s full of ideas.

5. Create things.  Oh, creativity stirs up so much in us.  Please go ahead:  fix cars, stir soup, move your body, paint, grow some leaves or children.  Make a really funny grocery list.  You are creative.  I would not lie to you. 

That’s it.  That’s enough for now. 

Time is too short, dear ones., to muck about.  We have brilliant lives to live above the din of the world.  We have won the day already because of Who we know.

Tap, tap, Loves.  LET’S GO.

This last year has been unlike anything we have ever experienced before, and it has made so many parts of life confusing and complicated–church included. Well, for those of you who have made the decision to begin re-engaging in the broader community around you, I want to invite you back to Midcurrent this Sunday–NO QUESTIONS ASKED! You don’t have to apologize, supply an adequate excuse, or answer to anyone about what it is you have been up to for the last year. We just want to see you again! And more than anything, we want you to know that you matter to us, and you matter to God. 

There’s two reasons why this coming Sunday, June 6, is the perfect time to join us once again.

1. We’re kicking off a brand new message series called Dangerous Prayers.  I truly believe our lives could change dramatically if we began to pray some big bold prayers. And by big and bold, I don’t mean long and lengthy. In fact, what I really mean is short and simple. Over the next three weeks I’ll share three two-word prayers that could change everything. 

2. Directly following the worship experience is Scoop of Summer. Once we wrap up inside, we’ll head outside for subs, ice cream, and tons of activities for kids (young and old) to enjoy. We want to do everything we can reactivate this community that has been growing now for almost four years. So we’re throwing a summer party to do just that, and it will not be the same without you! Hope to see you there!

The whole morning begins with a special treat from the band. You don’t want to miss it!

10:30am // Camp St. Croix // YouTube.com/MidcurrentChurch

Beginning Sunday, May 23, face masks will be optional

Local, state, and federal guidelines are continuing to evolve, and given the progress we have experienced, we trust and respect the decision you will make for yourself and your family as you engage with the broader community around you.

And while face masks are optional, being a responsible and respectful member of the community is not!  :

If, for whatever reason, you need to continue wearing a mask, please do.  And if you are not feeling well, or you are not yet comfortable around others who may not be wearing masks, we’d love to invite you to join us online for worship at youtube.com/midcurrentchurch. 

I know I can’t wait to see your face this Sunday–masked or unmasked. Either is fine with me. I’m just looking forward to being together and bringing a close to our series, I Have a Question. And as we do come together, let’s put all of our energy into worshipping a very real and a very good God who wants to meet us in very personal and powerful ways. 

10:30am // Camp St. Croix // youtube.com/midcurrentchurch

Today, a beautiful sunny day in the woods of Wisconsin {stick with me here.  it gets worse; I promise.}, my 8-year-old came into the kitchen where I was preparing lunch.  He had seen the watermelon on the countertop, awaiting the knife.  & he had an idea.

“Where are the cookie cutters?” he asked me. 

“Cookie cutters?” I thought.  Well, okay.  That could be fun.  Sure.  We are educational here.

So I dug them out.  He & baby sister proceeded to cut thin watermelon slices into candy cane shapes & stars.  They ate most of them before heading back out into the sunshine.  They created zero mess.

The End.

*gag*

Let’s try again, for real this time.

I hate lunch.  Actually.  Because I generally eat breakfast late, so about the time I’m finishing, my kids are asking about lunch.  This makes me crazy.  Also, I can think breakfast thoughts & dinner thoughts, but somehow there is a hole in he middle of my brain where lunch thoughts should live.  I have no reason for this.

Today was extra special.  Mari needed her hair combed 3 days ago, & since she knows I will let her play on my phone while I turn bird’s nest into braids, she brought me the brush & leave-in conditioner.
Around lunchtime.

Four minutes into that project & she was crying because I was solid on Game, yes; Cartoon, no.  So I was mad, Leif was arguing, & before I imploded, I sent them outside.  I couldn’t even be nice about it. 

Very shortly after they got outside, Mari said she was hungry.  Of course she is.  So I start pulling  random bits out of the fridge, hoping to conjure some semblance of lunch.  Remember how much I love this.

Both kids came in, then.  Leif saw the watermelon, asked for cookie cutters of all things.  Um, what?

“Well,” I thought.  “That would maybe clear the air a little after I bit their baby heads off for basically nothing.”

So, 2 kids, a watermelon, & a handful of cookie cutters later, everyone ate something, my mama guilt had tamped down a notch, & at least no one was crying anymore.

The End. 

We don’t need a whole lot from each other, I don’t think, but we do need to be honest.  Painting ourselves pretty only divides us, props us up, separates us from each other.  But the Truth?  Well.  Holding our actual human selves out to each other is an invitation:  “Hey, yah.  Same here.  I see you.  We are 100% in this together.”

& that does an actual wonder for how people see Jesus inside us. 

{ps ~ don’t ever feel the need to use the word “awaiting” in a sentence.  just saying.}

In December last year, I got tired (again) of how I wasn’t doing things well.  Heck, 2020 had us tired anyway.  I hadn’t derailed myself, sure, but Joy wasn’t my finest feature, either.  I wanted more.  Knew I could have more if I’d pare back down to basic Jesus things.

So I tracked down a different version of the Bible at the Goodwill in Hudson.  Maybe a  different flavor would spur me on to consistency.  I found one easily (of course).   It had maybe been owned by a grandma-sort: it was Lutheran hymnal green & had Bible verse references scrawled on the inside cover in spidery cursive.  It cost 99 cents.

I started reading.  No fireworks exploded over my head.  It was a One Year Bible, so I tried to read every day.  I forgot over New Year’s & had to catch up a whole week.  I didn’t know if I’d be able to.  (I am not kidding about this.)

As I read I thought, wouldn’t it be cool if each year I used a different color?  That would be super cool for my kids to pick up & page through after I am dead.  (Is that a regular thought?  Idk.).

Blue for the end of 2020, green for 2021, maybe purple for 2022.  Pinteresting.

Yah, no.  I am not that girl.  (But Jesus bless you if you are.  I would really like to see your pins).

Exactly nothing is fancy about my Bible reading plan.  In fact, nothing is fancy about spiritual practices of any kind, at all, ever.  Jesus kept things pretty simple for us.  Humans are simple folks.  After remote controls & the internet, we can only handle so much. 

This morning Mari saw me with my Bible, took my extra thin sharpie out of my hand & drew a chick on the page beside John 7.  She really wants to get chicks.  She sees me writing things in the margin, drawing a star sometimes, so she does, too. 
Extremely ordinary.  Pen, paper, small child, tiny scrawl. Paper, pen, Jesus, me.  Back to small things.

Nothing is hard about Jesus, even if following Him sometimes is.  It’s still a dirt path through the wilderness. 

We will walk, follow, trip, veer sometimes.  But what’s important is that we start reading again on January 2nd.  Get back up, brush off the dirt, lift your chin. 

It’s okay; there is no behind.  Just keep walking. Walk the very ordinary path of life with Jesus in only this day, that’s all.

Just, with the Love of God, keep walking.

Sten and Erica aren’t your typical pastor and pastor’s wife. From the moment Sten showed up at a coffee shop in ripped jeans and a t-shirt and told me he wanted to do a fashion show for dads and daughters, I knew they were different. He and Erica were down to earth and had out-of-the-box ideas. They spoke, with stubborn authenticity, about wanting to start a church where anyone would feel comfortable – especially those who didn’t currently attend one or had walked away from the church long ago.

Nothing about the Carlsons’ journey to church planting was traditional. In what he self-proclaims to be a “zig zag” career path, Sten has stated that “you don’t have to understand the plan to trust that God has a purpose.” With an undergrad in Student Ministries from North Park University in 2008, Sten accepted the role of High School Youth Pastor, for a quickly growing church of over 3500 in Colorado. While there, Sten learned a lot and was coached by some of the best. His Pastor Carl is an individual who still stands out to this day as being someone who encouraged him to take risks; to live without the regret of small thinking. Feeling the nudge for something more just two years after buying a home and driving his beautiful bride out to the foothills of Colorado, Sten and Erica headed home to the Midwest.

In the Fall of 2010, Sten started his first day at North Park Theological Seminary of Chicago and in the Spring of 2013, he was offered the position of Worship Pastor at Cedarbrook Church in Menomonie, Wisconsin. Erica was officially pregnant and the Carlsons were officially kicked out of the cozy student housing they’d shared at North Park. Within an hour’s reach of Erica’s family, Cedarbrook seemed like the perfect move. Feeling the nudge toward that place, they bought a house and got to work, excited to make a real impact. Could it be that all signs pointed to Menomonie?

Sten and Erica recall the moment when they both sensed the “nudge” yet again. They were getting closer, but this wasn’t it either. Having discovered a passion for writing and speaking while at Cedarbrook and in Seminary, Sten began to wonder what else God had up His sleeve. In May of 2015, He and Erica were invited to take part in a Covenant Church Planter’s Assessment weekend. The assessors’ answer to the Carlsons was “yes.” This was it! They were meant to plant a church! But Sten & Erica said “no.” Not wanting to add another line to their zig zag path, they took a year to pray about what came next. In the Fall of 2016, they were invited to yet another assessment weekend.  This time, something in their hearts began to stir.

As Sten and Erica began taking steps towards a potential church plant in Hudson, Wisconsin, God began taking steps towards them. Doors flung open and things happened quickly. On several occasions, planting in Hudson was confirmed and in many ways, their hearts were already there. From the moment when Sten heard that he would still live in Packer country, he had joy, unspeakable (Okay, that’s a lie but we will eventually convert him). But the truth is that from the beginning, the Carlsons have wanted more than anything in the world for people to encounter a real God in a church that’s authentic, relevant and genuinely influential. They wanted Midcurrent to be a place where anyone and everyone feels welcome.

Fast forward three years…Midcurrent, as the Carlsons imagined it, has been actualized. We are an active, giving, growing, thriving church and we are just getting started! When I get to see my own family walk through the doors of Midcurrent on Sunday mornings, there aren’t words to describe the gratefulness I have in my heart for a place that has made not only me but also my husband and my kids excited to come to church. A place where we feel welcome and like we maybe even belong. I’m grateful that another family answered the call on their lives and moved here in faith, without having received all of the details. I’m overwhelmed by all of the people who serve, whole-heartedly, at Midcurrent in order to make it what it is, today. God is truly moving in the hearts of everyone around me and it’s so obvious!

Sten, Erica, Lucy, Olle and Sigge….words can’t express how grateful we are for you and for everything that you do, for Midcurrent!

-Hailley Leverty

This. Is. Impossible.

I can still see it in my 9-year-old brain, Alice standing on the squares of a giant chessboard with the White Queen in an 80’s adaptation of “Alice Through the Looking Glass”.
They had been talking, & then:

“Alice laughed.  ‘There’s no use trying,’ she said.  ‘One can’t believe impossible things.’

‘I daresay you haven’t had much practice,’ said the Queen. ‘When I was your age, I always did it for half-an-hour a day. Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.’”

What was the last impossible thing you thought?
What was the last impossible thing you asked God for?

When we were small, impossible things were All of The Things, but somewhere along the trail, we shed our Wildness.  We called that Maturity. It’s hard for us not to tamp down our prayers to make them manageable for God.

What?

God doesn’t need our help, & He certainly doesn’t need our management.  We are not His mother. 

AND.  We have grown terrible at waiting.  The circle spins while I wait for the video to load, & I get up to pour more coffee.  My kid brings home a calendar he made in Sunday School with a month of squares to write our prayers, & all I can think of is how many squares there are.  That’s too much waiting for what I want.

BUT:  what if we got good at waiting well for impossible things? 

We would sound like this: 
Tough times?  Yep.  Still waiting.  Got lots of time.  God’s figuring it for me.  This is so much bigger than me!  Invisible, the best way.  What a great surprise coming. It’s gonna be so good.  Wanna wait with me? 

We’d be insane.  It would feel amazing. 

We don’t have to figure everything out all the time. & when we can’t figure things out, we’re meant to hold on harder & nuzzle into God, not collapse in on ourselves.  Our believing lives are supposed to be marked by Wild Things Happening.  We serve a miraculous God who is stoked at exhibiting His impossibility in our lives.

Wouldn’t it be fun to get good at letting Him?

Have you ever noticed how many National something Days there are?  I’ll admit, many of these seem silly to me. There are, however, a few I can get excited about. For instance, National Donut Day. Who wouldn’t be excited for that?! What about National Pancake Day? Come on…that’s good! There’s even a National Hunting and Fishing Day. Now, I’m not much of a hunter, but National Fishing Day is something that I could get on board with!

The celebrations aren’t just limited to days, however. Certain weeks are also designated throughout the year as well. And I couldn’t help but smile when I learned that we are in the middle of one of those weeks right now.

It’s National Volunteer Week!

I think this might be my new favorite week of the year. Why?? Well, after only three years of leading Midcurrent Church, I could not be more grateful for our volunteers. The reality is that Midcurrent is the place it is today because of so many of you who give of your time and your talent week in and week out. We simply would not be as effective in creating spaces for real people and a real God to meet, if it weren’t for each and every one of our volunteers.

YOU are Midcurrent, and together WE are the Church!

So to each of you who volunteers with MCKIDS or MCYOUTH, with our Roadies team or First Impressions team, our band or production team, our online service host team or prayer team, our finance team, leadership team, event planning team and beyond…I have one message for you today that I want to share from the bottom of my heart:

THANK YOU!

We simply could not do it with out you…and quite frankly, I wouldn’t want to do it with out you either!

If you are not yet, but would like to be a part of our team, click this link and let us know where you might be ready to volunteer your time and talent at Midcurrent!

Can’t wait for this Sunday! I, and a whole crew of volunteers, will be anxiously awaiting another opportunity to welcome you to another week in our current message series, I Have a Question.

You should join us!

10:30am // Camp St. Croix // YouTube.com/MidcurrentChurch

We’ve gotten pretty good at flashlights at our house. The structure is old, where we live. 80+ years. Which means outlets aren’t excessive, so neither are lamps. Which means when the little ones head upstairs at bedtime, they are a bit hesitant. There’s light up there, sure. But it’s up a steepish, darkish stairway & around a corner. The two smallest ones can’t reach the pull chain on the ceiling light. I’m starting to feel negligent. . . .

Anyway, to encourage their independence into the dark, we buy flashlights. Often. Also batteries. “Here. Take a flashlight,” we say, in self-satisfied parenting wisdom. & off they go, lighting their paths.

Turns out, God is saying the same things to us.

We are in a dark, dark world, obviously. Spend 4 seconds online & it’s hard not to be discouraged. Sometimes, it feels like the light is going out as we watch.
But this!
Your Word is a lamp to my feet & a light to my path. (Psalm 119:105.).

The world may be dark, but God has given us the Bible to shed light on all our paths. On every decision & confrontation & conundrum. He simply won’t not help us. But we need to want the Light, to want to engage with our Bibles. We need to pick up our flashlights.

So, I don’t know. Do what you can to make Bible reading a thing you do. Brew the best coffee, pour it into your chunkiest mug. Play some chill instrumental music. Buy cool pens & keep a Bible reading journal. Make looking into the Light a treat. Because it 100% is meant to be. If you’re outfitting flashlights because some corners of your house tend to be dark, you buy extra batteries.

If you’re outfitting your life because some corners of the world are dark, you look for the Light in every possible place. God’s Word is a mighty Light.

What if, like my little ones, we refused to go even one tiny step into the dark without a Light?

You ever have a week when you just feel kind of…blaah?? That’s how I’ve been feeling this week. The temperatures dropped significantly from a couple weeks ago. The sun hasn’t shown its face in what feels like forever. Snowflakes were even flying a day ago!  And on top of that, there is, once again, intense unrest in our country stemming from events happening right across the river from us.

Erica and I began this week praying for sunshine. Our prayers have quickly shifted into prayers for our nation and more specifically for the communities in the greater Twin Cities. I don’t pretend to understand the experiences of every party involved, as well as the communities they represent. But I am praying for each and every one of them. I am praying for grace and for truth. I am praying for people who are hurting. And I am praying for people who are tired, burdened, and feeling completely exhausted and overwhelmed. 

I hope you would take some time this week (if you have not already) to join me in praying these very prayers.

I don’t quite know how each of you are responding to all of this. But if I had to guess, I would guess that, for some of you, this only adds to the question that you have asked many times before…one that countless others have asked as well.  And that question is this: Why is there pain and suffering in this world?
 
That’s the question I want to address in the next week of our series; I Have A Question.

I hope you’ll plan to be a part of it. 

10:30am // Camp St. Croix // YouTube.com/MidcurrentChurch

We checked in a record number of kids (almost 100 in total), hosted more adults in our worship experience than ever before, and we saw a notable increase to our live-stream viewers on YouTube as well. All across the board, it was an incredibly exciting weekend. 

But I am not excited about attendance for attendance sake only.  I am excited, however, that more people than ever before at Midcurrent had the opportunity to hear the good news that Jesus’ victory over death gave us the keys to life! Friends, that is absolutely something to be smiling about. And I have a feeling I’ll be smiling about it for a while! 

The truth is, Easter weekend was just one in a string of recent weekends that has caused church leadership to stop, pause, and look around. And when we do, we’ve realized something: we are growing!! From MCKIDS, to MCYOUTH, to Sunday morning, to a growing community, new spiritual friendships and beyond…God is on the move. The momentum we’re experiencing has caused a few of us to begin wondering, “Are we growing out of Camp St. Croix? Do we need a space of our own?” And while we don’t have any plans to move at the moment, we can’t help but wonder if a new home could be, or should be, in our future. 

I tell you this because I want to invite you in on the whole process. And, I want to invite you to do a couple things in particular.

1. Would you pray for Midcurrent at this moment in our life as as church? We have been praying that God would lead us to know when the time is right to consider a facility of our own and what that facility would be. We would be so grateful to have all of you praying along with us.

2. Would you consider how you might be able to partner financially with us in regard to a facility of our own? There will come a day in our future when we hold an all out capital campaign to buy or build a permanent home. That is not what we’re considering now, but whatever move is next for us will still involve a significant investment. We want to be well positioned to make that move whenever that time comes. As a result, we have created a “Future Home” fund in our budget.  Perhaps you might be excited to begin contributing to it right now.

• “Future Home” can be added to the memo line of any check written to Midcurrent 

• Any dollar amount followed by “future home” can be texted from any smart phone to 84321

• “Future Home Fund” can be selected from the drop down menu of any online or Church Center app giving as well 

If you have any questions about this, please do not hesitate to email
Dave McDaniel at finances@midcurrentchurch.org. 

Only God knows what is next for us on this journey. But I’ll tell you what… it is an absolute joy and privilege to be on this journey with all of you. 

Don’t forget, we begin a brand new message series this Sunday called, I Have A Question. Over the course of this series, I will tackle a list of FAQ’s about God, church, faith, and the Bible. I hope to see you there.

10:30am // Camp St. Croix // YouTube.com/MidcurrentChurch

I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t afraid. 

I never meant to be scared of recess or not being able to figure out who the “Boss” was to ask if I could play.  I didn’t plan to be scared of the dark.  I would rather not be afraid of my kids growing up & out & too far away from me.  I never planned on knee-jerking Fear every single change & challenge.

But here we are.

And I’m not the only human standing behind a ridiculously comfortable door of Fear.  I mean, consider your heart after the last year.  FOMO alone is an adequate cultural indicator that we are scared.  In bits & pieces, sure.  To varying degrees, yes, yes, of course.  But I see you; it’s in there.
I see you because I see me.

But do you know what sounds awesome?
Courage.  Being fearless.
Why do we watch movies with heroes?  Because heroes are Brave.  I want to be that, I do.
I have a door in the way, though. 

I wanted to call this post “Bust it down!”, but the truth is, if we can just let Jesus crack one tiny door open into greater freedom, into a wide open space where our Fear is rendered powerless, or at least less effective, well.

Let’s start asking. 

We may need to be professional Askers.  Because all Fear may dissolve on the first shot Jesus has at our cowering Fear, but it might not.  We have slammed & locked & bolted this damned door down pretty darn tight, all of us.

(Is it any wonder Scripture is strewn with “Do not fear”?  No.  No, it is not.)

So let’s get started. 
I don’t want to be known for being afraid. 
I want to be brave.
We have a door to walk through.

“Jesus victory over death gave us the keys to life” -Pastor Sten

Easter is just a few days away, and I could not be more excited about what we have planned for you. I have been praying that many people would walk through our doors or join us online. But most of all, I have been praying that God would meet every single person, whether at Camp St. Croix or on YouTube, in a really powerful and personal way. I hope you have already invited, or know who it is that you want to invite to join you this year. I think it’s going to be an exciting day at Midcurrent. 

Because of that, I wanted to take a moment today to talk to those of you who truly call Midcurrent home. We want to create the best possible experience for every person who walks through our doors, and you can help! There’s a few things in particular I would ask you to do:

• Park on the far end of the parking lot. We want make sure everyone of our guests gets a VIP spot at Midcurrent. Just look for my black Honda CRV. It’s parked out on the far edges every Sunday!!
• Sit up front. We want to make it as easy as possible for our guests (especially any who may not arrive as early as others) to find place to sit and enter fully into the worship experience we have planned.
• Be prepared to give up your seat. This past Sunday, I had the joy of giving up mine for a mom and her kids who were looking for a spot to sit. Nothing makes me happier than making room for those who are hoping to encounter Jesus!
• Be a good host. Whether you are scheduled to volunteer on not, you are Midcurrent, and you can help us to be the best host ever! Keep our building looking clean and tidy…and keep an eye out for anyone who may need a welcome or friendly greeting.

Thanks so much Midcurrent. I love leading a church full of people who understand that we don’t just go to church, but that we are the church and we exist for the world around us…or maybe just the neighbor in our life who God has called us to bless in a big way! 

Can’t wait to see you on Sunday!

Jill Britz shared her thoughts with us…

I’d Rather Not, Thanks.

Maybe “serve” isn’t a wrecked word for you.
Maybe you don’t think of raking an old lady’s yard for way too long or the admonition to serve your husband so he loves you back.

Maybe, too, you’re not the sort who has trouble sleeping at night, whose anxiety hasn’t jacked up in the last 12 months since the world fell apart.
Maybe your world never falls apart.
Maybe depression has never crept under your skin.
Maybe you always get the best parking space.

I don’t now much about life, but I do understand about myself that I sincerely dislike the word “serve”, but equally I hate feeling unable to get out of my own head.  And I think one serves the other. (I promise that wasn’t on purpose.)

When I am at my worst, I still have to do the dishes.  When I am overwhelmed, I still need to feed my people something other than chips.  When I can’t see straight for despair, some child in my house still needs to tell me a story.   

A Mercy of Small Things. 

Jesus knew from His very own heart we would have much trouble in this world.  And He gave us things to do as part of our relief.  We serve brownies at a funeral, after all.

So maybe serving doesn’t excite you. 
Me, neither.  But I know tying tiny shoes & listening to my neighbor talk about coyotes makes me a little less me-centered alongside giving some of me to another.  That feels nice. 

And if that’s serving, well.  Maybe not a bad life hack after all. 

I just spent the morning discussing all sorts of details for Easter at Midcurrent. And I wish I could devote this entire email to tell you why I am so excited and why you need to be there! But I’ll have to save that email for next week (luck you!!), because first, I need to remind you about an amazing opportunity we have to support women, kids, and families here in our own backyard.

THIS Sunday, March 28, we are collecting items for two awesome local organizations–Delivery Hope and Options for Women. 

Here’s what they are hoping for:

• diapers
• wet wipes
• diaper cream
• lotion
• formula
• bottles
• new/gently used 2T-5T clothing 
• lightweight sleepers

These items will be given directly to women, children, and families, right here in the St. Croix Valley, who are in need of a little extra assistance right now. And I am praying that we at Midcurrent would be a big ol’ blessing to each and every one of them through the great work Delivering Hope and Options for Women are doing.

So load up a shopping cart in-store or online, and bring all items to Midcurrent this Sunday. You can also coordinate a porch drop off with us (just reply to this email), and we’ll be glad to add your donations into the mix! 

Thanks Midcurrent! It is such a joy to lead a church full of generous people who are always ready to serve their neighbor in the name of Jesus. 

Looking forward to seeing you on Sunday for the last week in our series
The Art of Neighboring. 

10:30am // Camp St. Croix // youtube.com/midcurrentchurch

Sten

As I listened to Sten’s message about Who Is At Our Table, I thought about what keeps us from opening our doors in the first place.  These words came from there. 

“Heart, not house”

My couch is outdated, though.

And I have a dog.  Some people don’t like dogs.

And there’s an actual hole in the wall.  Also the floor.  (Maybe in my ego, too, now that it’s come up.)

Also, we only have one bathroom.

Plus, our house is small.  Capital “S” small.  

Really not big enough for having people over. 

I know we’re supposed to;  I really don’t think it applies to us, though.  I’m sure it doesn’t. 

We should have said those things, maybe.

Or maybe we did, quietly, in our hearts.

(They’re all true, after all.)

But instead we said, 

We need to know people.  We need people around us and in our kitchen and in our yard.  We need kids for our kids.  We need lots of someones who will stick around when life gets messy.  Because it always does. 

So we sent out invites for pizza.  Just come, bring ingredients you will eat, anything your kids won’t pick off.  You can help us assemble dinner, roll dough if you like.  Spread sauce & commonality.  

It certainly has never been fancy, and it’s always too far to ask anyone to drive.  We still only have one bathroom, but the couch is comfortable. 

Did those parts matter?

Nope.

You know they didn’t.

Because they wouldn’t matter to you, if someone invited you in.

In is the only part that matters.

And we can do that for each other, yah?

I think we could be good at it. 

There is an announcement I have been wanting to make so badly over the last month. The difficult part was the confirmation we were still waiting for, as well as the final t’s needing to be crossed and i’s needing to be dotted. So I had to hold off week after week after week. It was killing me. And now the wait is over!

We might have missed some precious promotional time, but I am still confident and l crazy excited to announce the launch of MCYOUTH!!

For the months of March, April, and May, we’ll hold somewhat of a soft launch, so to speak, with a simple goal of creating a regular space to engage, empower, and encourage students (6th-12th grade) at Midcurrent.

Starting next Wednesday, March 3rd, MCYOUTH will meet weekly at the YMCA Teen Center (2211 Vine Street in Hudson) on Wednesday nights from 6:30pm-8:00pm. We have assembled an amazing team of adults and leaders who are anxiously awaiting the opportunity to invest into middle school and high school students in our community. 

You very well might have middle school and high students, or know some in the neighborhood. Either way, make sure you let them know about MCYOUTH. We’d love to have them in on the ground level–helping to breathe life into the very environments we dream about creating for teenagers in the St. Croix Valley! 

Teenagers today are leaders tomorrow. Let’s help them become all of who God created them to be!

Back in January we went through a 2 week series called ‘Hindsight is 2020’ and some shared stories of the year that was and how they saw God moving throughout. 

Jill Britz shared some incredible wisdom to kick off the series, don’t miss a single word of what she has to say!

This past Sunday, I stopped downstairs into MCKIDS while we were prepping Camp St. Croix for church that morning. My daughter, Lucy, was standing in front of a giant piece of paper taped to the wall with a marker in her hand. She was preparing an activity for one of the MCKIDS classrooms that morning. I’ll tell you what…it brought a huge smile to my face!

Yes, it was my own daughter which made me proud. But it was so much more than that. I absolutely love to see the next generation loving and serving God in whatever way they can! 

If you spend anytime at Midcurrent, you know we love kids! We believe kids today are leaders tomorrow. And I couldn’t be more excited to dedicate 13 kids to the Lord this Sunday. That’s 13 kids whose parents want to start them off on an intentional path to know and follow Jesus. How cool is that?!

And what’s even more cool is that we as the Church get to play a part in all of it! We get to stand alongside these families in their efforts to raise their kids to know and follow Jesus. 

What’s my point? Here it is. We need you this Sunday…in person or online. We need all of Midcurrent engaged, to stand in the corner of the families and the kids who stand before God and their church family this weekend. 

It’s gonna be an great morning. I hope you can be a part of it. It won’t be the same without you!

10:30am // Camp St. Croix // midcurrent.online.church

Sten

For two Sundays in a row, just last month, neither Erica nor I were at Midcurrent assuming our typical roles for the morning. But this past Sunday, both of us were back at it–me preaching upstairs and Erica teaching in MCKIDS downstairs. Erica will admit, she was nervous.

For a few months now, Erica has worked hard to ensure that every kid at Midcurrent knows three specific things about God, and every week she reminds them with an enthusiasm that is contagious. But as she stepped back into the classroom this week, she wondered, “Are they really getting it? 

Oh boy are they getting it!! Erica was so excited to report to me that she could barely get the question out of her mouth before the room full of kids rattled off the answer:

1. God is a good God!
2. God is in a good mood!
3. God is not mad!

Friends, you should know that there is something special happening in MCKIDS every Sunday. In fact, from Day 1, MCKIDS has been a very special place and is a huge part of what Midcurrent is today. And we are blown away at the growth and excitement we are seeing down there right now.

At the same time, we are mindful of the fact that our MCKIDS team of classroom teachers and leaders needs to grow as well. With all that we have been experiencing over the last year, our team isn’t at full strength as it once was. And yet, we still desire, more than ever, for MCKDS to be the most fun, safe, and caring place for kids in our community on a Sunday morning. We need your help to ensure that continues to be true every single week. 

So here’s what I’m asking of you today. If you want to be a part of one of the most vital teams and one of the most exciting environments at Midcurrent, would you email erica@midcurrentchurch.org and let her know! I know she’ll be thrilled to add you to the team and to partner with you to teach kids more about our incredible God!

Thanks!
Sten

If you’ve been around for the last couple weeks, you know that I haven’t been. But after a week of some rest and relaxation with my family, I’m excited to say, “I’m back!!!”

But before I get too far ahead of myself, let me first pause and say a huge word of thanks to our guest, Joey King. Joey is a great dude with a great heart for God, and I was so glad for him to have the chance to be with all of you. Let me also say a word of thanks to you for your warm welcome to Joey the last two Sundays. My prayer is that Midcurrent would always be a place that embraces the leadership and incredible potential of the next generation!

Ok, now onto this Sunday. I’m so excited to be back on the Midcurrent stage and to begin a brand new message series, Unmasked. I know for the better part of the last year, face masks have been the topic of so many conversations. These aren’t quite the masks I want to talk about. But there are some masks that most of us have been wearing for a lot longer than the last 10 months, and it’s about time we started taking them off. 

I think it’s a message series that could have a huge ripple effect throughout our church and maybe even our community. I’d love to see you there for it either in-person or online. I’d be so glad to have you invite a friend or neighbor too. 

Sunday 10:30am // Camp St. Croix // midcurrent.online.church

Sten

I am currently reviewing all things 2020 at Midcurrent. And despite the constant uncertainty of the year behind us, one of the things I am so mindful of is your continued faithfulness and generosity to God’s work at Midcurrent. Sure, Midcurrent looked and felt different last year. And perhaps it wasn’t all you wished it could have been at every given moment.

But in the midst of it all…ministry went on, our staff continued to be supported, spaces were still created for real people and a real God to meet, and God was still on the move!

Let me express my deep, deep gratitude to those of you who partnered with us financially! If you are ready to consider this kind of partnership with Midcurrent in 2021, you can do so safely, and easily online.

GIVE NOW

But I should mentioned that your financial giving isn’t the only way to give back to God at Midcurrent. It takes a whole team of volunteers who give of their time, every week, to work alongside us to ensure that Midcurrent is prepared to be a place where real people and a real God meet. And like so many other things, COVID has impacted the strength and the depth of most of our volunteer teams. So there is no better time than right now to raise your hand and join Team Midcurrent as we move forward together–believing the best is yet to come and that our God isn’t finished yet here at Midcurrent and in the St. Croix Valley. If you are ready to raise your hand, to join team Midcurrent, and to serve right alongside of us…now is the time!

JOIN TEAM MIDCURRENT

I love to be a part of a church who gives so generously in so many different ways all so that God is honored and more people have the opportunity to encounter Him!

Oh ya…one other thing. Sunday is coming. We’ll save you a seat…or see you online!

10:30am // Camp St. Croix // midcurrent.online.church

Sten

P.S. Moms and dads, if you’re interested in having your child dedicated at Midcurrent on Valentine’s Day, February 14, you can register today right here!

With everything we have experienced in the world, things in the Church world have looked a bit different. Church interest, engagement, and attendance have all been affected. In some case, all three have decreased. And there are understandable reasons for it all. But here’s what I believe hasn’t decreased even in the midst of all of the craziness of 2020. I do not believe that spiritual curiosity or interest has decreased in the least bit. I believe now, more than ever, people are asking spiritual questions and are looking around for some bit of hope or good news.

That’s why I am incredibly excited about Christmas Eve Eve at Midcurrent. And no, that’s not a typo. We know Christmas is a crazy time of year and we don’t want to miss out on the chance to host as many of you and your friends and neighbors as possible. That’s why were are offering two worship experiences on Wednesday, December 23 at 4:00pm and 6:00pm. Midcurrent Kids will be rockin’ so your kids have a place celebrate Christmas with their friends, and we’ve already begun dreaming and planning for how we can make this evening special whether you join us in-person or online. 

If you do plan to join us in-person, you can help us out by taking ten seconds to RSVP here. We promise to have a seat for you at Midcurrent this Christmas Eve Eve, as well as plenty of space so you can confidently join us for this special evening. Just let us know what service you’re planning to attend and who will be joining you! The RSVP link can be found on the home page of the Church Center app as well. 

Begin thinking and praying now about who you might invite to join you for Christmas Eve Eve at Midcurrent! ]]> 2980 sten@midcurrentchurch.org (Pastor Sten Carlson) https://midcurrentchurch.org/2020/12/02/midcurrent-midweek-12-2/ Thu, 03 Dec 2020 00:14:30 +0000 http://midcurrentchurch.org/?p=2950 Whether you grew up in church or not, you may know that the four weeks leading up to Christmas is known as the season of Advent. That all started this past weekend.

In the Carlson home, we kicked off this season in the same we have for the last few years–getting annoyed and frustrated while putting up Christmas decorations with three young kids.  Someone please tell me it gets easier….right?

Well either way, here’s the good news. Advent isn’t about decorations, trees, hanging stockings, or stringing up lights. Advent literally means “coming” or “arrival.”  So this season is one in which we await, with hope and expectation, the coming of a newborn King. In the days leading up to the arrival Jesus, angels appeared four different times to announce the good news. Their message began the same way each time—Fear not.  You see, the reality is that the world then was real similar to the world we’re living in now. People were tired, afraid, discouraged and losing hope. With each new visit, the angels’ announcement truly gave the people something to look forward to.

Throughout the month of December, we are going to examine each of those four angel encounters in a brands new messages series called, The Weary World Rejoices.  My single prayer is that with each announcement, you too will find reason to rejoice and give thanks this year for the gift that Jesus is to you and me. 

This next season at Midcurrent won’t be same without you…in-person, or online. Invite a friend or neighbor to join us too!

10:30am // Camp St. Croix // midcurrent.online.church ]]> 2950 sten@midcurrentchurch.org (Pastor Sten Carlson) https://midcurrentchurch.org/2020/12/01/sermon-notes-11-29-20/ Tue, 01 Dec 2020 19:59:39 +0000 http://midcurrentchurch.org/?p=2945 “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.”

Colossians‬ ‭4:2-6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I’m not gonna lie, I was nervous that we bit off more than we could chew. The tree where we hung these gift tags was full, and we only had one week to get all the shopping done. However, within a matter of seconds, every single tag was taken! Many of you were asking if we had more. Truthfully, I’m not sure why I ever doubted. Time and time again, you rise to whatever challenge you are presented. THANK YOU MIDCURRENT! I love being a part of such a generous and giving church! 

If you grabbed a tag or two, don’t forget to bring it back to church THIS Sunday. Drop your unwrapped gifts into a bag, attach the identification tag to the outside, leave it with us, and we’ll take it from there! 

If you didn’t get a tag on Sunday, but still want to support this Christmas Campaign, you can bring hats, mittens, socks and underwear this Sunday as well. Those basic necessities will accompany each of the gifts we provide and will be distributed to all those who need them this winter as well. 

I suppose it’s fitting that we had one week to complete this campaign because we are just about to finish our message series, ONE.  Thanks to my good friend and colleague, Jamie Staples, who was with us on Sunday. He shared a vital message about our need to make a rugged commitment to loving, forgiving, and bearing with one another. 

This Sunday, I’m gonna bring this whole series to a close by talking about the ONE SHOT we have to influence others for Jesus. I think it’s the perfect message for each of us as we head into the Christmas season. 

Don’t miss it!

10:30am // Camp St. Croix // midcurrent.online.church

Sten

P.S. Our MCKIDS team is assembling Advent Boxes for your family to enjoy at home together this Christmas season. Hit reply to this message to let me know you’d like one with your families name in it!  ]]> 2937 sten@midcurrentchurch.org (Pastor Sten Carlson) https://midcurrentchurch.org/2020/11/18/midcurrent-midweek-11-18/ Thu, 19 Nov 2020 00:15:51 +0000 http://midcurrentchurch.org/?p=2919 I can’t even count, over the last few months, how many times I’ve asked myself “I wonder if __________ is open right now?” These days, it’s a totally valid question as our communities continue to adapt and navigate to the realities we are experiencing.

Well, I don’t want any of you wondering what Midcurrent is up to these days, so I wanted to take a minute to fill you in on the details.  

While all things are subject to change, at this time, Midcurrent will continue to offer worship experiences in-person and online. 

If you have not yet been ready to attend Midcurrent at Camp St. Croix, I know full well you have made that decision for reasons that are important to you. And I’m not asking you to change your mind, but I am pleading with you, “Don’t check out!!” You are a vital part of this community and I invite you to stay plugged in online. Every week, we continue to fine tune the online experience so you can continue to be a part of the church. Login at 10:30am to midcurrent.online.church, let us know you’re watching, say hello to someone else who is tuning in with you, connect with our host for prayer, or ask a friend you see online how you can be praying for them. Even while we are apart, we want you to know you are an important part of who we are!! 

For those of you who have been with us at Camp St. Croix, let me say how I have really enjoyed our times of worship together. I think the same is true for you. So many of you have told me how meaningful it has been to be in church together. I’m glad for that. However, if that’s going to continue to happen, I need to ask you for your help…both while you’re at home and while you’re at church. 

When you are at home…take care of yourself. Stay active. Get a good night sleep. Fuel your body and your mind in the most healthy ways possible! 

And when you are at church…continue to keep your distance. Keep your mask on. Keep your hands washed. And keep a close check on how you are feeling before you head our way.

Based on our reduced attendance at this time, the space available to us, and the measures we have put in place, we feel confident about the environment we have created at Midcurrent. And we love to welcome you through our doors. We’re hoping we can continue to do so in the weeks and months to come.  You can help us do that! 

Can’t wait for week 4 in our series ONE. I’ll be back on site and am looking forward to welcoming my good friend and colleague, Jamie Staples, to the Midcurrent stage… a.k.a. carpet square. 

See you Sunday.

10:30am // Camp St. Croix // midcurrent.online.church ]]> 2919 sten@midcurrentchurch.org (Pastor Sten Carlson) https://midcurrentchurch.org/2020/11/04/midcurrent-midweek-11-4/ Thu, 05 Nov 2020 01:43:05 +0000 http://midcurrentchurch.org/?p=2897 Hey Midcurrent!

Every summer, my mom’s entire side of the family spends a week at a Bible camp in Michigan. Each winter, the camp reveals the summer theme for the new season. Last winter, they revealed the theme for the upcoming summer of 2020. It was Into the Unknown. Little did they know how accurate that theme would prove to be as summer 2020 arrived. They ultimately canceled the week I was planning to spend there with my family, as well as all of their regularly scheduled summer programs, because there was simply too much that was….unknown. 

I don’t know about you, but Into the Unknown feels like it could be the theme, not just for a summer camp in Michigan, but for our entire nation. As if we needed any more uncertainty, we are now forced to patiently await the results of one of the most contentious and grueling elections in recent history.

If you’re anxious, I’m not surprised. 
If you’re confused, you’re not alone.
If you’re exhausted, join the club. 
If you’re a Jesus follower…we need you!

Midcurrent, if there was ever a time when the Church (and by “Church” I mean, you and me) could be an unstoppable and irresistible force for good in the world, it’s NOW! A divided nation needs to see a united Church. They need to see that we are hope dealers and not blame casters. They need to see that we don’t sacrifice our character for our candidate. They need to see that our hope is in something far greater than a political candidate. And most of all, they need to see that even in the face of uncertainty (and maybe especially in the face of loss–should your candidate or mine not prevail) our confidence is not shaken in the God we serve and the ways He is at work around us.

Friends, I am hoping I can count on you to help lead the way in our little slice of the Kingdom here in the St. Croix Valley. As I said on Sunday along with pastors all over the country…your political candidate will win or lose based on how Americans voted on Tuesday. The Church will win or lose based on how Jesus followers act every single day after. Midcurrent, we can’t afford to not get this right.

As much as I wish it wasn’t true, I think Into the Unknown is going to be our theme for a little while longer. So let’s all lean a little harder on what it is we do know. God is still on the throne. He’s not thrown off guard by anything we’re experiencing. And he promised us that he would be with us and that he would never leave us or forsake us. 

For today, that’s good enough for me.

Hope you can join us for week two in our series, ONE. I want to attempt to reframe the differences that exist between us so that we might see them in a whole new way. 

10:30 am // Camp St. Croix // midcurrent.online.church

Thanks,
Sten ]]> 2897 sten@midcurrentchurch.org (Pastor Sten Carlson) https://midcurrentchurch.org/2020/11/03/sermon-notes-one-wk1/ Wed, 04 Nov 2020 01:21:41 +0000 http://midcurrentchurch.org/?p=2891 In the final moments before his arrest, and eventual death on a cross, Jesus prayed for US.

His one prayer request is that we would experience unity despite our diversity.

WHY?

Because Jesus knew that if we are ONE, we’ll get the attention of a world that needs to know of the Father’s love for them.

Thanks Erin for sharing a bit of your story with us!

The truth is, we live in a divided world. That’s why I am excited about the brand new, five week series we are beginning this Sunday in collaboration with two of our regional sister churches– Cedarbrook Church in Menomonie and Renew Church in Eau Claire. It’s a series called, ONE: Single Focus in Divided World.

For the next five weeks, pastors James Brown, Jamie Staples, and I will introduce five different topics that we believe can bring us together in the church–pointing us in the right direction for all that God desires of us. 

I’m excited to kick it off this week talking about Jesus’ one prayer request to God right before he was betrayed and ultimately crucified. 

If you can think all the way back to May, and our second month of church online, I actually introduced this one prayer that Jesus prayed. But at this specific point in time, we need to look again–with fresh eyes and open hearts. 

I am excited to be together in-person and online. I sure do hope you are planning on one or the other! 

Moms and dads, plan to arrive this Sunday with a little extra time to register your kids for MC KIDS! We will have limited space available for the soft launch of the first phase of MC KIDS’ re-opening. Check your kids in upstairs as you arrive, keep them with you for the first half of the worship experience, and then they will be dismissed to a clean, safe, socially-distanced, and age-appropriate learning environment created just for them! 

10:30am // Camp St. Croix // midcurrent.online.church

This last Sunday, we celebrated three years since we first opened the doors of our church! Whether you were with us in-person or online, we were so glad to have you a part of all the excitement for this incredible milestone. I think my favorite part of the morning was the privilege we had to hear the stories of real, everyday people at Midcurrent. From day one, we set out to create spaces and opportunities for real people and a real God to meet. And my heart was so full from hearing how God has met each of these people in powerful ways in the last three years.

And while we had the opportunity to hear, specifically, from four of you, I am certain that God has shown up in the lives of so many more. In fact, I’d love to know how God has shown up in your life or your kids life, or in your family, or your marriage or wherever. I’d love to celebrate with you. And as a church, we’d love to come along side you, cheering you on for the ways God is at work in you.

So if God has shown up, somehow, in your life in the last few years, would you send me an email to tell me all about it? These things are worth celebrating and who knows…someone else might just be encouraged by the very story of how God has been at work in you!

This Sunday, in the last week of this short three-week series, I’m going to talk about the first week in year number four at Midcurrent. And while there are lots of unknowns in the months ahead, I’m excited to share how Jesus, Jeff Bezos, and Amazon just might help us navigate it all.

Hope to see you then!

10:30am // Camp St. Croix // midcurrent.online.church

Sten

It was exactly three years ago today, October 15, 2017, that we officially opened the doors at Midcurrent for the first time ever. It was probably about 6:00am that morning too, although I wasn’t rolling out of bed. I was already rolling sound equipment out of a trailer along side our dedicated launch team. I think I can still feel the nerves, the excitement, and the energy in the room. I can remember the faces–of both friends and strangers–who showed up that morning relieving our fears that we’d have a room full of empty chairs.

It really is hard to imagine that three years have gone by. And never in my wildest dreams did I think that we’d be celebrating this milestone in the middle of a year that has completely turned our world upside. Nonetheless, it is this milestone that we are celebrating this Sunday at Midcurrent. There is no doubt that COVID-19 and church online have changed our plans for this celebration. Things will certainly look different. But there is one thing that has stayed exactly same. God’s faithfulness to us.

When I really stop to think back over these three years, it’s hard not to be overcome with emotion and gratitude for all that God has done. He has been on the move in hearts, lives, families, marriages, and beyond. And that is what we are celebrating on Sunday. And nothing can stop us from giving thanks to a great God for all He has done in the last three years.

I know it’s been a crazy year and a crazy fall. I’m sure you’ve got a crazy weekend ahead. But I would be so thrilled to have you carve out some time to celebrate with us. Because YOU have played a huge part in what Midcurrent is today!

We’ve got a really great worship experienced planned with a fun and meaningful look back at these last three years. It really won’t be the same without you!

10:30am // Camp St. Croix // midcurrent.online.church

Thanks,
Sten

By now, you may have heard that the state of Wisconsin issued a mandate to limit indoor gatherings to 25% of the room capacity. Although churches are exempt from that mandate, I want to reassure you of everything we are already doing to create the safest experience for us to worship together.

The first thing worth mentioning is that regardless of an exemption we might have from the mandate, our current attendance for the last month has actually been at about 25% of the room capacity at Camp St. Croix. So there is plenty of space to maintain appropriate distance. Our chairs are also set to accommodate social distancing as well.

Additionally, we’ve asked that everyone abide by current executive orders regarding face coverings, and we’ve worked hard to limit any points of contact that might put us in close proximity to one another.

We’ve also invited school aged kids to worship with us upstairs, while creating space downstairs for parents to accompany their own kids who may need some extra wiggle room. The service is live streamed to a TV in the lower level. So your kids can spread out, and you can still tune in to the worship experience taking place upstairs.

We know that there are varying levels of comfort about being out and about these days and we totally understand. That’s why we are so glad to create space for you in-person or online. And one way or another, I hope you’re carving out time to continue to make Midcurrent a part of your Sunday morning. I truly believe that God honors the time in our lives that we set apart for Him.

Setting aside that time will be especially meaningful over the next 3 weeks as we celebrate 3 YEARS since our doors opened for the first time!

This Sunday, I want to take you back to the weeks, months, and years before Midcurrent even started. There was something in particular that convinced me to take the step toward planting a church. I believe it might be the same something that God wants for you in order to take your next step in life and faith!

10:30am // Camp St. Croix // midcurrent.online.church

Thank you for hanging in there with us throughout the last six months.

Thank you for your prayers for my family and for our church family.

Thank you for your continued generosity to God’s work at Midcurrent.

Thank you for stepping up and serving in new ways during a new season of ministry.

Thank you for showing up to Camp St. Croix to worship with us once again.

Thank you for tuning in online.

Thank you for your graciousness as we open our doors doing our best to abide by social distancing, face covering, hand washing, and health monitoring guidelines.

Thank you for your patience as we continue to enhance the live-stream experience for those who have chosen to stay at home or who are first checking Midcurrent out from a distance.

These are unique days we are living in. And while it seems like most things in this world are meant to divide us, I am praying that our shared mission together and our love for one another–and for our community–would only draw us closer and closer together.

This Sunday is week 3 in our series I’m In. And I could not be more excited to let each of you know that, in God’s eyes, you are influential. I’ll say more on Sunday. Looking forward to it!

10:30am // Camp St. Croix // midcurrent.online.church

And no matter where it was that you were engaged with us on Sunday, you should know of the vital part you play in the community God is forming at Midcurrent. Because, while it was encouraging to be back in our building again, the church is definitely not a building. It’s people. It’s real everyday people, like you and me, who use their everyday lives to make a difference in the world all in the name of Jesus. I’m glad to be a part of a church full of people who want to do everything they can to reach more people for Jesus!

If you were with us on Sunday, you heard us introduce our new mobile app. If you weren’t with us, let me tell you about it now. It’s a great new tool that will allow you to:

1. stay up to date on the latest church news

2. send any questions or prayer requests with our new digital connection card

3. give back to God with your finances

4. pre-check your kids in to MC Kids (when MC Kids resumes)

5. register for events, retreats, and small groups

Interested? Just download the Church Center app, sync it with Midcurrent, and you can stay connected with us right from the palm of your hand.

We’ll be back at it again this Sunday for week 2 in our series I’m In. I can’t wait to look all of you in the eyes (even if it’s through a camera lens) to let you know you are invaluable to God’s work here on this earth.

Sunday // 10:30am // Camp St. Croix // midcurrent.online.church

This is it!! Our doors are opening at Camp St. Croix once again this Sunday morning at 10:30am, and we are incredibly excited to welcome you back and to be together again!

I want to let you know that we are not choosing to meet together again because we are oblivious to or unconcerned about what’s happening in the world. We are meeting together again because we are confident we can do so safely and responsibly and because we believe something profound happens in our hearts and souls and minds…and in our world…when we come together in worship and prayer before a God who sees us and loves us. So we are hopeful that you will plan to join us. At the same time, we know some of you will not be able to join us quite yet. Just know that you are no less a part of the incredible family God is building here at Midcurrent! When the time is right, we’ll be so glad to see you again!

In addition to the adjustment of only one service at 10:30am for now, here’s a few other things you’ll want to know:

• We’ll also be live streaming our 10:30 service on midcurrent.online.church and YouTube

• We’ll be inviting kids to participate with their families for the worship experience, AND we’ll continue running MC Kids experiences on demand any time on our website and also on Sunday mornings at midcurrent.online.church with a slight adjustment to service times:

  • Preschool still at 8:30am.

  • Elementary now at 9:00am.

• For any kids that do join us, make sure to grab a little gift bag from us to keep you company during church

There’s a few more specifics you’ll also want to know if you join us this Sunday.
You can read about them here.

Before I sign off, I just want to let you know that this Sunday will be a great week to invite any friends and neighbors or yours who are ready to venture out and who might be ready to connect a little more with Midcurrent. Yes, the whole experience will look different than what you remember, but we’re starting a brand new message series of which I think you and your friends and neighbors will be glad to be a part. It’s a four week series called I’m In where I’ll share with each of you the four things I want you to know are true about you.

Hope to see you this weekend in-person or online!

10:30am // Camp St. Croix // midcurrent.online.church // YouTube

Sten

At the same time, what this does mean, as we re-open, is that we can only go as fast and as far as we can go together.

As a result, we will resume meeting together in phases.  And we are incredibly excited to announce that, beginning on September 13, our first phase of in-person worship experiences will begin as follows:

1. We will be offering our 10:30am worship experience ONLY until attendance and/or social distancing needs require us to add our 9:00am worship experience back to the morning schedule.

2. We will begin our initial phase of reopening by inviting all kids to participate with their parents for the worship experience until we can ensure a safe and hospitable environment each Sunday in the basement level of our rented facility.

3. We will be live-streaming our 10:30am worship experience online for those who are not able or comfortable to join us in-person.

4. That live-steam video feed will be displayed on a lower level TV where parents may accompany any of their own children who are 3 and under.

5. All staff and volunteers will be wearing face-coverings (except any musicians or speakers when presenting from the stage area which will be at least 6 feet a part from the first row of chairs).

6. Staff and volunteers will be instructed to refrain from physical contact such as hugs or handshakes.

7. All seating will be arranged to allow social distancing.

8. All doors (except bathroom doors) will remain propped open to ensure contactless entries and exits from Camp St. Croix.

9. Pre-service and post-service connection time will be encouraged to take place on the front walkway or covered side patio.

10. Physical programs and connection cards will not be utilized. Note taking is encouraged on personal notebooks. All prayer requests can be submitted via email to prayer@midcurrentchurch.org and all questions and comments (including those interested in getting better connected at Midcurrent) can be sent to sten@midcurrentchurch.org

11. All guests are encouraged to bring their own coffee, tea, and treats until we can safely and happily serve you those items once again.

12. We will abide by all local health recommendations and current executive orders regarding social distancing, face coverings, hand washing, and personal health monitoring.

13. All volunteers and guests are asked to monitor their own health and to stay home if you are not feeling well for any reason.

For some, what’s described above is too much and too soon. For others, it’s not enough and it’s way too late. However, rather than focusing on what is or isn’t, I’m am choosing to focus on the incredible opportunities we have–in so many new and unique ways–to continue creating opportunities for real people and a real God to meet. And I am fully confident that, with open hearts, we will meet and experience God in real and powerful ways this fall!

As with all things in 2020, we are working hard to ensure a safe and hospitable environment for everyone, all while acknowledging that the nature of a retreat like this is designed to create intimacy for us all.

This year’s retreat will take place in Hayward, Wisconsin from October 16th – 18th (Check in is any time after 5 pm on Friday and check out will take place at 11 am on Sunday). We will be gathering at the Ackwood Lodge, a lake home located on 9 acres of the Lac Courte Oreilles estate.

As always, this year’s retreat will include crafts, good convos, healthy meals, cozy blankets and time to be still. We are excited to announce that the weekend will also include custom workouts by our friend & Certified Group Fitness Trainer, Rebecca Christenson, and an appearance from national author and speaker, Jenny Donnelly!

Due to limited space, we ask that only those able to attend for the entirety of the weekend’s events, register. Payments may be made by credit card only and we will not be able to extend refunds. We look forward to a weekend to breathe with you!

Click here to register!

I turned my back for one second, and just like that… it’s sweatshirt weather! Now I’m never one to wish summer away, but I will admit, I do like the changing of the seasons. There is a lot to like about fall, and for many of us there is comfort in routine and the return to some sort of schedule. 

At Midcurrent, fall would also mean the start to a full slate of ministry and programs throughout the church and a big old kick-off to set everything in motion. We are set to kick-off, in a sense, but given the last five months we’ve all been experiencing, somehow it feels a little different. But, that doesn’t mean we are any less excited. It all goes down on Sunday, September 13 at 10:30am only. Our doors will be open to you and your friends and neighbors once again, and we’ll also be live-streaming our worship experience at the very same time. That will be an exciting first for us as well! 

For those of you who will join us in-person, there’s a few details you’ll want to know about the first phase of our re-opening. You can read about them here.

All of this means that this coming Sunday is the last time (fingers crossed) that we’ll hold church exclusively online. It sure would be fun to have all of you tune in, say hey in the chat window, and celebrate a pretty unique tool God has used during a pretty unique time.

I’m also excited to let you know that my brother, and some good friends of mine, will be our guest worship leaders….all the way from Loveland, Colorado!! Brian has been working SO hard for the last few months that we wanted to give him the Sunday off.  So I was grateful when my brother agreed to round up a team and prepare a set of music to lead us. It’s pretty special for me to collaborate with him. And it’s pretty cool that church online allows us to partner with other leaders, musicians, and Jesus followers from across the country. It’s gonna be a great morning! 

No matter where you’ll be this Labor Day weekend, I hope you’ll carve out some to to be with us. 

9:00am and 10:30am // midcurrent.online.church // YouTube Live

MC Kids meets at midcurrent.online.church too!
Preschool at 8:30am
Elementary at 10:00am

See you all then!

Sten

P.S. Ladies, we asked and you answered overwhelmingly that, YES, you still want the Breathe Retreat to happen this year. So it’s happening. October 16-18. Registration is live, and, this year especially, space is limited. So if you’re interested, don’t wait. You can learn more and sign up here.